Master Sergeant Adam P. Porter joined the United States Air Force Band of Flight, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in February 2024. He currently performs on tuba with the Spirit of Freedom. In addition to his musical responsibilities, Sergeant Porter serves as a Master Resilience Trainer for the Air Force.
Hailing from Plymouth, MA, Master Sergeant Porter enlisted in the Massachusetts Air National Guard in May 1993 and graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1998 with a B.S. in Music Performance. Since that time he has had the privilege of studying with Scott Mendoker, John Manning, Sam Pilafian, Pat Sheridan, Graham Ashton, Jens Lindemann, and Marty Hackleman. He has also attended multiple Institute of Brass Quintet Seminars at Boston University Tanglewood featuring The Empire Brass and the Atlantic Brass. Sergeant Porter has a K-12 Teacher’s License in the state of Massachusetts where he taught in the Gardner Public Schools for four years. Committed to fostering music through education, Sergeant Porter frequently conducts master classes and educational concerts for young musicians. He has been featured on the campuses of Southern New Hampshire University, UMASS, UCONN, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Lakeside College, The Conservatory of Music at Purchase College-State University of New York, Rowan University, Shepherd College, Phillips Academy, and Bridgewater State College.
In addition to his educational outreach, Sergeant Porter has had numerous performance opportunities. As founding member of the award winning Bala Brass quintet, he has toured the globe appearing in Japan, Russia, Chile, Canada and Thailand. He is very proud of the fact that Bala Brass was the first group of its kind invited to participate in the Osaka International Chamber Music Festa in Japan in 2002. They were also awarded the bronze medal at the 2001 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, as well as being honored as a finalist in the 2001 Coleman Chamber Music Competition. Sergeant Porter has been a featured artist at several conferences including the International Trumpet Guild Conference, UCONN Brass Festival, The New York Brass Conference, and NERTEC held at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. In addition, he has recorded with the Albany Symphony, Massachusetts Wind Orchestra, and Bala Brass. Sergeant Porter's keen interest in contemporary music has led him to be instrumental in the commissioning and performance of numerous chamber and solo works for brass. He has participated in the premier performances of music by acclaimed composers like Robert J. Bradshaw, Whitman Brown, Luis Bacalov, Maj. Michael Donovan (USAF Ret), and Salvatore Macchia.
In 2011 Sergeant Porter deployed with Afterburner to Southwest Asia in support of US troops and coalition forces. In addition to performing for troops, he engaged in public concerts as well as educational outreach in local communities throughout Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, U. A. E., Kyrgyzstan, and Qatar. He also provided support for US Ambassadors in many of these places.
EDUCATION:
1998 Bachelor of Science in Music Performance, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, MA
2004 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, McGee-Tyson Air Base, TN
2014 Associates Degree in Music, Community College of the Air Force
2020 Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, Course I
2021 Air Force Master Resilience Trainer Certification, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2024 Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, Course II
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1993 – October 2000, 567th Air Force Band of Cape Cod, Otis Air National Guard Base, MA
2. October 2000 – March 2010, 567th Air Force Band of the Northeast, JFHQ MA ANG, Milford, MA
3. March 2010 – November 2011, USAF Band of Liberty, ESC/HQ, Hanscom AFB, MA
4. November 2011 – March 2012, Bandsmen, AFCENT Band, USAF Central Command, Southwest Asia
Operation Enduring Freedom
5. March 2012 – July 2012, USAF Band of Liberty, AFLCMC, 66th ABG, Hanscom AFB, MA
6. July 2013 – November 2016, USAF Academy Band, Peterson AFB, CO
7. November 2016 – February 2024, USAF in Europe Band, Ramstein AFB, Germany
8. February 2024 – Present, USAF Band of Flight, AFMC, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal with bronze star
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and one oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hour glass
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2015 USAF Academy Band NCO of the Year
2015 USAF Academy Band Public Affairs Excellence in Communications NCO of the Year
2018 Colonel Finley R. Hamilton Department of Defense Outstanding Military Musician of the Year Award
2019 USAFE Band NCO of the Year
2020 USAFE Band NCO of the Year
2020 USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs NCO of the Year
2020 USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs Lance P. Sijan Award Nominee
2021 USAFE Band SNCO of the Year
2021 USAFE Band Public Affairs Excellence in Communications SNCO of the Year
2021 USAFE-AFAFRICA HQ Public Affairs Excellence in Communication Innovation Team of the Year
2022 USAFE Band SNCO of the Year
2023 USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs Excellence in Communication Innovation Team of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Master Sergeant 1 May 2021
(Current as of February 2023)