Goodman was born in 1980 and raised in the southeast section of Washington, D.C.[3] He served from 2002 to 2006 in the United States Army, including in combat with the 101st Airborne Division in the Iraq War.

[7][8] As a sergeant deployed to Iraq in 2005, Goodman led a 10-man squad in the Sunni triangle area that conducted patrols and identified improvised explosive devices requiring detonation.

[3][11][12][13] One media report described his actions as follows: In short, he tricked them, willingly becoming the rabbit to their wolf pack, pulling them away from the chambers where armed officers were waiting, avoiding tragedy and saving lives.

A video released on February 10, 2021, during the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump, showed Goodman leading Utah Senator Mitt Romney away from approaching rioters during the January 6 attack.

[11][26] A bipartisan resolution (H.Res.305) was introduced on January 13, 2021, by Representatives Charlie Crist (D-FL), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), and Nancy Mace (R-SC) to award the medal to Goodman.

[27][28][29] Rep. Cleaver, one of the three original co-sponsors of the bill,[27] wrote that, "[i]f not for the quick, decisive, and heroic actions from Officer Goodman, the tragedy of last week's insurrection could have multiplied in magnitude to levels never before seen in American history.

[33] He was announced as the Acting Deputy Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate; when stepping out onto the inauguration platform ahead of Harris, he received a standing ovation and cheers from those attending the ceremony.