Colonel Don Schofield is the commander and conductor of The United States Air Force Band. He is responsible for all activities of this 184-member squadron including equipping, training and deploying Airmen musicians to perform nearly 1,600 missions each year. Schofield recently completed command with the United States Air Forces in Europe Band stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where he oversaw and directed more than 400 missions annually across Europe and Africa in a 104-nation area of responsibility.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Schofield received his bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Georgia, his master’s degree in music from Louisiana State University, and his doctoral degree from Boston University. Prior to receiving his commission at Officer Training School in 1997, Schofield was a public school band director for 6 years in Georgia. His previous commands include the United States Air Forces in Europe Band in Germany, the United States Air Force Academy Band at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado, the Band of the Air Force Reserve at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, and the Band of Mid-America at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Colonel Schofield also served as the Deputy Commander, 11th Operations Group and the Director of Operations for The United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C.
Schofield has conducted military bands, professional orchestras, and school honor bands throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Sweden, and Ukraine. He has led international performances with artists such as Kid Rock, Little Big Town, Josh Turner, Lee Ann Womack, Chris Daughtry, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Lonestar, Wynonna Judd, Naomi Judd, Robin Meade, Amy Grant, Take 6, Diamond Rio, the Miracles, Lee Greenwood, Gary Morris, Brian McKnight, Gordon Goodwin, and Yuri Mynenko. As a result of his musical leadership during internationally broadcast productions at the Grand Ole Opry, Schofield was twice recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences as a Top Four Finalist for a prestigious Emmy Award.
Schofield’s leadership has been recognized by the U.S. Air Force by being named the United States Air Forces in Europe’s Public Affairs Communication Excellence Field Grade Officer of the Year, the United States Air Force Academy’s Public Affairs Field Grade Officer of the Year, the Air Force Reserve Command’s Public Affairs Field Grade Officer of the Year, Air Mobility Command’s Band Officer of the Year, and Air Force Materiel Command’s Band Officer of the Year. Under his command, the United States Air Forces in Europe Band was named the winner of the 2017 Brigadier General Dalton Award for the best Public Affairs Unit in the United States Air Force. Schofield’s contributions resulted in the United States Air Force Academy Band and the Band of Mid-America being awarded the Colonel George S. Howard Citation of Musical Excellence for military concert bands.