Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) Chantelle M. Friedman serves as Superintendent for the United States Air Force (USAF) Heritage of America Band, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. The band is composed of 61 personnel and 5 flights including operations, publicity, resources, readiness, and administrative support. Additionally, the band maintains 9 performance teams that execute more than 350 missions each year in support of strategic Air Force messaging initiatives, Presidential support, civic outreach, international partnership building, recruiting, and troop support across a 15‑state region and at deployed locations around the world.
Originally from Ashland, New Hampshire, MSgt Friedman entered the Air Force in 2005 as a clarinetist. She has performed throughout 30 European and Asian countries. Her most memorable performances are those for several international presidents. Prior to joining the Air Force, she performed with many professional organizations including the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Emerson String Quartet. Her teachers have included Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr and Jonathan Cohler.
EDUCATION
2003 BM Music Education, University of Hartford, Hartford, CT
2003 BM Clarinet Performance, University of Hartford, Hartford, CT
2005 MM Clarinet Performance, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
2009 Airman Leadership School, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas
2009 Associates in Applied Science Music, Community College of the Air Force
2016 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Kapaun AS
2021 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Jun 2005 - Jan 2010, USAF Band of the West, Lackland Air Force Base, TX
2. Jan 2010 - Jul 2011, USAFE Band, Sembach Air Base, Germany
3. Jul 2011 - Aug 2016, USAFE Band, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
4. Aug 2016 - Aug 2021, USAF Band of Mid-America Scott Air Force Base, IL
5. Aug 2021 - present, USAF Heritage of America Band, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2006 USAF Band of the West Airman of the Quarter, 1st Quarter, Lackland AFB
2006 USAF Band of the West Airman of the Year, Lackland AFB
2008 Wing Staff Agencies Junior Enlisted Member of the Quarter, 2nd Quarter, Lackland AFB
2008 USAF Band of the West Airman of the Year, Lackland AFB
2009 John Levitow Award Winner, Airman Leadership School, Lackland AFB
2009 USAF Band of the West NCOof the Quarter, 4th Quarter, Lackland AFB
2012 United States Air Forces in Europe Band NCO of the Year, Ramstein AB
2015 United States Air Forces in Europe Band NCO of the Quarter, 3rd Quarter, Ramstein AB
2016 Distinguished Graduate, Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Kapaun AS
2017 USAF Band of Mid-America NCO of the Quarter, 3rd Quarter, Scott AFB
2017 Airlift/Tanker Association Young Leadership Award, AMC Public Affairs, Scott AFB
2019 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB
2019 AMC Public Affairs SNCO of the Quarter, 2nd Quarter, Scott AFB
2019 AMC Public Affairs SNCO of the Year, Scott AFB
2020 AMC Public Affairs SNCO of the Quarter, 1st Quarter, Scott AFB
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman 1st Class 28 Jun 2005
Senior Airman 28 Oct 2007
Staff Sergeant 01 Aug 2009
Technical Sergeant 01 Feb 2015
Master Sergeant 01 Jan 2019
Senior Master Sergeant 01 Feb 2022
(Current as of March 2022)