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Senior Master Sergeant Ricky Sweum

Senior Master Sergeant Ricky Sweum is a Premier Band, Saxophonist, and the Section Chief of Productions for the United States Air Force Academy Band, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado.  Originally from Eugene, Oregon, his Air Force career began in 2003 with the USAF Band of the West at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas.  In 2005, SMSgt Sweum won a position at the Premier USAF Academy Band in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he served as lead tenor saxophonist and Tour Manager for the Falconaires Jazz Band.  In 2011, he was assigned to the USAF Band of the Pacific at Joint Base Richardson-Elemendorf, Anchorage, Alaska, where he served as Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge and Music Director of the Greatlanders Jazz Band.  In 2012, SMSgt Sweum was assigned to the USAF Band of the Pacific-Asia at Yokota Air Base, Tokyo, Japan, where he served as Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge and Musical Director of the Pacific Showcase Jazz Band, was Section Chief of Operations, Section Chief of Administrative Support, and Section Chief of Publicity.  In 2018, Sergeant Sweum returned back to the states and joined the USAF Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, California, where he served as Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of The Commanders Jazz Ensemble, Section Chief of Administrative Support, and Unit Training Manager.  In 2020, SMSgt Sweum returned to USAF Academy Band in Colorado.

SMSgt Sweum earned a Master of Music in Jazz Studies degree from the University of Arkansas at Monticello where he served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant.  He holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Production from Berklee College of Music where he graduated Summa Cum Laude.  As an educator, SMSgt Sweum's top students have won scholarships to Berklee College of Music, Eastman School of Music, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, University of Denver Lamont School of Music, University of Colorado Boulder College of Music, placements in all-state honor bands, and gone on to become professional musicians and educators.

EDUCATION:
2022 USAF SNCO Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, AL
2020 Master of Music (Jazz Studies), University of Arkansas at Monticello, AR
2017 Bachelor of Prof Studies (Music Production), Berklee College of Music, MA
2017 USAF SNCOA Academy (Distance Learning Course)
2016 Associates in Applied Science (Music), Community College of the Air Force
2008 USAF NCO Academy, Peterson AFB, CO
2003 Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX
1996 Jazz Studies, William Paterson University, NJ

ASSIGNMENTS:
Aug 2020 – USAF Academy Band, Peterson SFB, Colorado Springs, CO
Aug 2018 – USAF Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, CA
Aug 2012 – USAF Band of the Pacific, Yokota AB, Japan
Jun 2011 – USAF Band of Pacific, JB Elemendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, AK
Oct 2005 – USAF Academy Band, Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, CO
Aug 2003 – USAF Band of the West, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
National Medal of Arts
Colonel Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award
Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs Communication Excellence Award
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Airman First Class – 15 May 2004
Technical Sergeant – 3 Oct 2005
Master Sergeant – 1 Aug 2014
Senior Master Sergeant – 1 Apr 2022