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Senior Master Sergeant BRETT L. SMITH

Senior Master Sergeant Brett L. Smith is the superintendent of the United States Air Force Heartland of America Band, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.

Sergeant Smith entered the Air Force in July 1981. Upon graduation from Basic Military Training, he was assigned as Lead Trombonist of the Blue Edition jazz ensemble, The USAF Band of the Gulf Coast, Keesler AFB, Miss. He performed on 125 performances for over 500,000 people.

From 1984 to 1986, Sergeant Smith was assigned to the United Air Forces Band in Europe, Einsiedlerhof Air Station, Germany. He performed throughout Europe as Lead Trombonist and Operations Representative with the Ambassadors jazz ensemble, a group that directly descended from the original Glenn Miller Band in Europe.

In June 1986, Sergeant Smith returned to the USAF Band of the Gulf Coast. He performed as Trombonist with Blue Edition, and as trombonist and back up vocalist for Sky Power popular music ensemble in more than 100 schools throughout the South. He performed on tuba and Euphonium in the Brass Ensemble and Ceremonial Band. In 1989, Sergeant Smith was selected as the unit's Outstanding NCO of the Year. In July 1991, he was assigned to the AF Band of the West, Lackland AFB, Texas, as trombonist with the Concert Band and the unit's jazz ensemble.

In July 1992, Sergeant Smith became a Military Training Instructor with the 737th Training Group basic training Drum and Bugle Corps at Lackland. During his eight-year tenure with the Drum and Bugle he instructed over 10,000 trainees and performed in 200 parades and ceremonies.

From 2000 to 2004, he served as First Sergeant for the USAF Band of the Pacific-Asia, Yokota Air Base, Japan, and was trombonist with the Pacific Showcase jazz ensemble. He performed in Guam, Okinawa, Hawaii and throughout mainland Japan.

Performing in over 1,000 concerts, parades and ceremonies during the past 23 years in 10 countries, Sergeant Smith's musical highlights include 1984 performances for President Ronald Reagan, Vice President George Bush and a performance in England with four of Glenn Miller's original band members, Peanuts Hucko, Anne Shelton, Zeke Zarchy and Ray McKinley. Other highlights include performing with jazz great Bill Watrous in 1987, performing with Marv Stamm in 1992, performing for Japan's Prime Minister Obuchi in 1999 and for Japan's Prime Minister Koizumi in 2003.

EDUCATION
1982 Professional Military Education Course Phase One, Keesler AFB, Miss.
1987 Noncommissioned Officers Leadership School, Keesler AFB, Miss.
1992 Outstanding graduate, Military Training Instructor School, Lackland AFB, Texas
1995 Associate's degree in music, Community College of the Air Force
1995 Distinguished graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Lackland AFB, Texas
1996 Associate's degree in instructor technology, Community College of the Air Force
2000 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Correspondence Course, Gunter
Annex, Alabama
2005 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy in residence, Gunter Annex, Alabama

ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1981 - June 1984, trombone instrumentalist, USAF Band of the Gulf Coast, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2. June 1984 - June 1986, trombone instrumentalist, United States Air Forces Band in Europe, Einsiedlerhof Air Station, Germany
3. June 1986 - July 1991, trombone instrumentalist, The USAF Band of the Pacific - Asia, Yokota Air Base, Japan
4. July 1991 - July 1992, trombone instrumentalist, The USAF Band of the West, Lackland AFB, Texas
5. July 1992 - June 2000, Military Training Instructor, 737th Training Group, Basic Training Drum and Bugle Corps, Lackland AFB, Texas
6. June 2000 - June 2004, trombone craftsman and First Sergeant, USAF Band of the Pacific-Asia, Yokota Air Base, Japan
7. July 2004 - May 2006, band superintendent and Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Noteables jazz ensemble, USAF Heartland of America Band, Offutt AFB, Neb.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force 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
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1989 Selected to Outstanding Young Men of America
2001 Pacific Air Forces Band Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman 6 July 1981
Airman First Class 6 Jan 1982
Senior Airman 1 June 1983
Sergeant 1 June 1984
Staff Sergeant 1 Oct 1987
Technical Sergeant 1 Feb 1992
Master Sergeant 1 Dec 1998
Senior Master Sergeant 1 Aug 2004

(Current as of May 2007)