Thomas A. Holm

Thomas Adam "Tom" Holm

Tom Holm has had a career that is both unique and uncharted. While conducting research for his book, Shrouded Heritage: Island of the Blue Dolphins, Holm exposed a system exploited by academics to keep human remains and sacred artifacts from their rightful Indigenous heirs. By involving Indigenous Peoples in his archaeological and ethnographic research, Holm was able to support new theories of mankind's migration into the America's and the complexities of their societies which he argues, correctly, predated even the Egyptians by 10,000 years.

Holm's inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in his work has led to over 1,000 human remains being returned to culturally-affiliated tribes for reburial. He has also located an additional 14,000 sequestered human remains, which are now being targeted for reburial by rightful descendants. In the beliefs of those descendants, the reburial of those remains will enable the souls attached to them to be rescued from a hellish purgatory enabling them to rejoin their families in heaven.

But, Holm hasn't always been involved in archaeology. Above all else, he strives to be an environmental activist. He has designed and built environmentally-considerate custom vehicles for automotive titans like Mercedes-Benz, GM, Mitsubishi, Kia and Ford. He has promoted alternative fuel and conservation programs within the automotive industry, as well as for the U.S. Navy and Marines. He has designed, built and operated mobile medical and research vehicles that set new standards in “green technology.” And, Holm has also produced, written and hosted 30 episodes of the Adventure Highway with Tom Holm TV series which highlighted some of America’s most beautiful locations.

For his work in the automotive industry, GM proclaimed Tom, “a champion who is awakening mankind to alternatives in living and new methods to preserve our natural resources.” Mitsubishi said, “Mr. Holm sets an amazingly high standard of integrity and performance” and the German press playfully dubbed Holm, “das Eco Pimper” for his eco-conversions of cars and trucks.

Holm’s advanced degree from the prestigious Scripps Institution of Oceanography enables him to investigate the use of biofuels, including those made from algae, while researching sites that are culturally or environmentally sensitive. His research initially focused in areas (land and sea) controlled by the U.S. Navy, then expanded internationally when he was appointed the first ever Lead Scientific SCUBA Diver for the Scripps Center for Marine Archaeology during its inaugural expedition to Greece.

Holm’s unique skills have enabled him to work in the Maldives, Greece, Africa, Australia, Guam, Fiji, Palau, Bali, Mexico, New Zealand and Turkey. He has also earned the trust of several Indigenous Communities, military leaders and conservation groups here in the U.S. Holm’s work to protect threatened cultures, wildlife and world monuments inspired him to establish the non-profit EcoTrek Foundation. Through EcoTrek, Holm performs research and educational programs, while he continues writing and lecturing about preserving the world’s endangered cultures, destinations and precious natural resources.