Master Sergeant David Hartung, is a tuba player in the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America. He serves as the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of the Brass Ensemble as well as performing in the Concert and Ceremonial Bands. Additionally he serves as Resource Advisor the chief financial warden for the unit.
Originally from Frankfort, Kentucky, Sergeant Hartung enrolled at Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky where he studied with renowned euphonium soloist Dr. Earle Louder. Following two years at Morehead he transferred to the University of Kentucky at Lexington where he graduated in 1996. In 2007 Sergeant Hartung completed his Masters of Arts Degree in tuba performance with honors from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri. He is currently pursuing his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana/ Champaign.
Sergeant Hartung has performed with the Radio Orchestra Kaiserslautern(Germany), German Brass, Louisville Orchestra, Keith Brion's New Sousa Band, Saint Louis Philharmonic and currently leads the acclaimed Arch City Brass.
Sergeant Hartung's tuba teachers include Sam Pilafian, Patrick Sheridan, Michael Moore, Jim Martin, Dr. Skip Gray, Michael Sanders and Dr. Jerry Young.
Joining the Air Force in 1996, Sergeant Hartung was assigned to the Band of Mid-America where he was a founding member of the acclaimed Tuba/Euphonium group Four Star Brass. In 2009 Sergeant Hartung was assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe Band. While stationed in Europe Sergeant Hartung was named 2011 Non-commissioned Officer of the Year for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band and USAFE Public Affairs.
Sergeant Hartung has performed in 21 countries for five Presidents, Pope John Paul II, the Prime Ministers of Japan and Kazakhstan and the Secretary General of the United Nations. He has also performed on NBC's Today Show, ABC'S Good Morning America, CBS's Sunday Morning, NPR's All Things Considered and NBC's July 4th, 2004 Fireworks soundtrack with Ann Hampton Callaway and Michael Feinstein.
EDUCATION
1996 - Bachelors of Music, Tuba Performance, University of Kentucky at Lexington
2001 - Airman Leadership School, Scott AFB, IL
2006 - Associates in Applied Science Music, Community College of the Air Force
2007 - Masters of Music, Tuba Performance, Webster University, Saint Louis, Missouri
2010 - Noncommissioned Officer Academy Leadership School, Kapaun AB, Germany
2012 - Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Course 14, Non-Residence
2014 - Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, Non-Residence
ASSIGNMENTS
June 1996 - August 1996, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
August 1996 - July 2009, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, IL
July 2009 - July 2011, United States Air Forces in Europe Band, Sembach AB, Germany
July 2011- July 2012, United States Air Forces in Europe Band, Ramstein AB, Germany
August 2012 - present, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, IL
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one silver oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
2011 - Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, US Air Forces in Europe Band
2011 - Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, US Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs
2012 - Communicator of the Year, USAF Band of Mid-America
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class - 26 Jun 1996
Senior Airman - 26 Oct 1998
Staff Sergeant - 01 May 2001
Technical Sergeant - 01 Sep 2008
Master Sergeant - 01 Jun 2012