LT COL CRISTINA MOORE URRUTIA
Lt Col Cristina Moore Urrutia is Commander and Conductor of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band, Ramstein AB, Germany. In this position, she oversees 45 members that execute more than 300 missions annually across Europe and Africa. Before his current assignment, she served as is Commander and Conductor of the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific, Yokota Air Base, Japan, and its detachment at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
Beginning her military career as an enlisted member of the United States Army in 1992, Lt Col Moore Urrutia served as Principal Horn and Associate Conductor of the 43rd Army Band of the Nebraska National Guard. She then joined the United States Air Force, receiving her commission as a Distinguished Graduate of Officer Training School in April 2001, and was subsequently assigned to the United States Air Force Band of Liberty, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. In 2004, Lt Col Moore Urrutia was handpicked to conduct the prestigious Singing Sergeants at The United States Air Force Band, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, DC. While serving as Flight Commander and Director of the Singing Sergeants and Assistant Conductor of the Concert Band and Symphony Orchestra, she regularly performed for the President of the United States, Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and many other senior leaders and distinguished international visitors.
Selected for command in 2007, Lt Col Moore Urrutia led the USAF Band of the West, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas for four years. During that time she deployed on the USNS Comfort as part of Operation CONTINUING PROMISE 2009, reaching thousands across Central, South America, and the Caribbean with the message of partnership and support from the United States. Her follow-on command was at the USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, IL. Units under her leadership have received multiple awards, to include the Colonel George S. Howard award, AF Outstanding Unit Award, and the Public Affairs Communication Excellence Award for Best Communication Integration.
Lt. Col Moore Urrutia has conducted at the White House, Arlington National Cemetery, Redskins' FedEx Field, Astros' Minute Maid Park, and at Ford's Theater in the nationally televised "An American Celebration: A Salute to Our Troops." She was also the guest emcee for the PBS special "Salute to Veterans 2011."
A native of Kimball, Nebraska, Lt Col Moore Urrutia graduated with high distinction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1995 with a Bachelor of Music degree in French Horn Performance and a Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting in 1998. During that time, she appeared throughout Nebraska as the guest conductor of the Third Chair Chamber Players and the Omaha Theatre Company. An accomplished hornist, she performed regularly with the Omaha Symphony, Lincoln Symphony Orchestra and the Hastings Symphony. Lt Col Moore Urrutia studied horn under Allen French, as well as occasional studies with Gail Williams and Philip Myers. In addition to studying conducting under Dr. Tyler White and Maestro Emil Aluas, she has trained with such noted conductors as Mallory Thompson, Jerry Junkin, Rene Clausen, and Mack Wilberg. Lt Col Moore Urrutia's professional affiliations include the Conductor's Guild, the American Choral Director's Association, Women Band Directors National Association, and the Phi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society.
EDUCATION
1995 - Bachelor of Music, Horn Performance, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
1998 – Master of Music, Orchestral Conducting, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
2001 – Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2006 – Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2015 – Master of Arts, Military and Operational Science, Air Command and Staff College, Air University
ASSIGNMENTS
November 1992 – December 2000, Principal Horn and Associate Conductor, 43rd Army Band of Nebraska National Guard, Lincoln, NE
January 2001 – April 2001, Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, AL
April 2001 – June 2004, Deputy Commander USAF Band of Liberty, Hanscom AFB, MA
June 2001 – September 2007, Flight Commander, The USAF Band, Bolling AFB, DC
September 2007 – August 2011, Commander, USAF Band of the West, Lackland AFB, TX
August 2011 – July 2014, Commander, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, IL
July 2014 – July 2015, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
July 2015 – October 2018, Commander USAF Band of the Pacific, Yokota AB, Japan
November 2018 – Present, Commander USAF in Europe Band, Ramstein AB, Germany
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Navy Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with 1 oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with 1 oak leaf cluster
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with 1 bronze star
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Private First Class November, 1992
Specialist October, 1993
Second Lieutenant April 5, 2001
First Lieutenant April 5, 2003
Captain April 5, 2005
Major December 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 2016
Current as of 1 October 2018
Oberstleutnant Cristina Moore Urrutia ist Kommandeurin und Dirigentin der US Air Force in Europe Band am Standort Ramstein, Deutschland. Unter Ihrer Leitung absolviert die 45 köpfige Truppe jährlich mehr als 300 Auftritte in Europa und Afrika. Vor ihrer gegenwärtigen Aufgabe diente sie als Kommandeurin der US Air Force Band of the Pacific in Yokota, Japan und deren Zweigstelle am Standort Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
Ihre militärische Karriere begann 1992 als Mitglied der United States Army. Oberstleutnant Moore Urrutia spielte das Erste Horn und war Co-Dirigent der 43rd Army Band der Nebraska National Guard. Danach trat sie der United States Air Force bei und began ihre Offizierslaufbahn im April 2001 nach Absolvierung der Officer Training School mit Auszeichnung. Anschließend wurde sie der US Air Force Band of Liberty am Standort Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts, zugeteilt. Im Jahr 2004 wurde Oberstleutnant Moore Urrutia handverlesen ausgewählt, die renommierten Singing Sergeants der United States Air Force Band in Washington, DC zu leiten. Ihr Aufgabenbereich umfasste das Amt des Flight Commanders und die Leitung der Singing Sergeants, sowie die stellvertretende Leitung der Concert Band und des Symphonieorchester. Während dieser Zeit trat sie regelmäßig für den US Präsidenten, den Verteidigungsminister, den Vorsitzenden des Oberkommandos der Streitkräfte, sowie zahlreichen ranghohen Führungsmitgliedern und internationalen Ehrengästen, auf.
2007 wurde sie zur Kommandeurin ernannt und leitete vier Jahre lang die US Air Force Band of the West am Luftwaffenstützpunkt Lackland in San Antonio, Texas. Während dieser Zeit war sie auf der USNS Comfort im Rahmen der Operation CONTINUING PROMISE 2009 im Einsatz und erreichte so Tausende in Zentral- und Südamerika, sowie der Karibik mit der Botschaft der Partnerschaft und Unterstützung durch die Vereinigten Staaten. Ihr Folgeeinsatz bei der US Air Force Band of Mid-Amerika führte sie zum Luftwaffenstützpunkt Scott in Illinois. Einheiten unter ihrer Führung wurden mehrfach ausgezeichnet, darunter mit dem Colonel George S. Howard Award, dem Air Force Outstanding Unit Award und dem Public Affairs Communication Excellence Award für die beste Kommunikationsintegration.
Oberstleutnant Moore Urrutia trat unter anderem im Weißen Haus, Arlington National Cemetery, Redskins FedEx Field und Astros' Minute Maid Park auf, sowie im Ford's Theatre bei der landesweiten Übertragung von "An American Celebration: A Salute to Our Troops." Sie war auch Gast-Referentin für das PBS Special "Salute to Veterans 2011.”
In Kimball, Nebraska geboren, studierte Oberstleutnant Moore Urrutia an der University of Nebraska-Lincoln und schloss ihr Studium 1995 mit einem Bachelor of Music in French Horn Performance und einem Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting mit Auszeichnung ab. Während dieser Zeit fungierte sie als Gastdirigentin der Third Chair Chamber Players und der Omaha Theatre Company mit Auftritten in ganz Nebraska. Als ausgebildete Hornistin spielte sie regelmäßig für die Omaha Symphonie, das Lincoln Symphonieorchestra und die Hastings Symphonie. Lt Col Moore Urrutia studierte Horn bei Professor Allen French, sowie gelegentliche Einzelstunden mit Gail Williams und Philip Myers. Zusätzlich zu ihrem Studium unter Dr. Tyler White und Maestro Emil Aluas, hatte sie unter anderem auch die Gelegenheit von renommierten Dirigenten wie Mallory Thompson, Jerry Junkin, Rene Clausen und Mack Wilberg zu lernen. Oberstleutnant Moore Urrutias berufliche Zugehörigkeiten umfassen den Conductor's Guild, die American Chordirector's Association, die Women Band Directors National Association und die Phi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society.
Chief Master Sergeant Mark A. Burditt is the Manager of the United States Air Forces in Europe Band, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. He is responsible for the personnel, resources, training, deployment readiness, and duty management of the 45-member squadron in support of USAFE-AFAFRICA missions including building and preserving partnerships through official multi-national military, and international community outreach events.
A Wisconsin native, Chief Burditt graduated from the University of Wisconsin--Green Bay. Prior to enlisting in the Air Force, he performed from 1982-1990 as a staff musician at Walt Disney World. In 1990 he auditioned and was selected for assignment to the United States Air Force Academy Band where he served as trombonist as well as Resource Advisor, Director of National Tours, First Sergeant, Deployment Advance Team Lead, Director of Staff, and Logistics Superintendent. In 2011 he served as Superintendent and then Manager of the Band of the Air Force Reserve at Robins AFB, GA returning to the Air Force Academy Band in 2013. He has performed with Diane Schuur, Patti Page, Debbie Reynolds, Earl Klugh, Adalberto Santiago, Lee Ann Womack, Josh Turner, Little Big Town, Chris Daughtry, and in the orchestras of Warren Covington, Jimmy Dorsey, Larry Elgart, and Nelson Riddle. He has also had the honor of performing for numerous U.S. Presidents and dignitaries as well as the military Chiefs of Staff of the Russian Federation and China. Additionally, he has performed extensively and recorded with Denver's premier salsa band, Conjunto Colores and as an active music educator, has served as jazz trombone instructor at Colorado College and the University of Colorado at Boulder. Chief Burditt has deployed three times in support of operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM, spearheading the movement of Air Force bands downrange to perform for troops at numerous forward operating bases throughout Iraq and Afghanistan and leading embassy and community relations performances in Djibouti, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan. In 2008 he served as the director of operations for the Air Force Central Command Band.
Bachelor of Arts, Communication and the Arts, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
1990 Noncommissioned Officer Preparatory Course
1991 Noncommissioned Officer Correspondence Course
1995 Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2000 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Correspondence Course
2004 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2004 Associate of Music, Community College of the Air Force
2010 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Correspondence Course
2012 Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course
2013 AFSO21 Executive Leadership Course, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
1. August 1990-June 1993, USAF Academy Band, USAF Academy, CO
2. July 1993-September 2003, USAF Band of the Rockies, Peterson AFB, CO
3. October 2003-March 2011, USAF Academy Band, Peterson AFB, CO
4. March 2011-August 2013, Band of the USAF Reserve, Robins AFB, GA
5. September 2013- April 2015, USAF Academy Band, Peterson AFB, CO
6. April 2015-Present, USAFE Band, Ramstein AB, Germany
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with bronze star
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant 1 Jan 2012
(Current as of June 2017)
Demnächst auch
Master Sergeant Eugene W. King, a native of Riverdale, Georgia, plays trumpet in the United States Air Forces in Europe Band. He currently performs with the Concert Band, Marching Band and the Five Star Brass Quintet.
Sergeant King is a 1994 graduate of Riverdale High School, and holds degrees from DePaul University, (Bachelor of Music with Honors, 1998) and Arkansas State University (Master of Music Performance with highest Honors, 2000). His trumpet teachers have included John Hagstrom, Ross Beacroft and Richard Jorgensen. Sergeant King has performed with the Chicago Brass Choir, the Savannah Symphony Orchestra, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, the Pine Bluff Symphony Orchestra, and the Arkansas State University Faculty Brass Quintet. EDUCATION 1998 - Bachelor of Music, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois 2000 - Master of Music, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Arkansas 2005 - Airman Leadership School, John L. Levitow Award, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 2011 - Noncommissioned Officer Academy, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tennessee 2012 - Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Course 14, Non-Residence 2013 - Associate of Music, Community College of the Air Force 2014 - Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course, Non-Residence 2015 - CCAF Professional Manager's Certification
2017 – Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course, Volume 2, Non-Residence ASSIGNMENTS April 2001 - June 2001 - Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas June 2001 - August 2005 - USAF Band of Flight, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio August 2005 - August 2017 - USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, Illinois
August 2017 - Present - US Air Forces in Europe Band, Ramstein AB, Germany MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Air Force Meritorious Service Medal Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster 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 four oak leaf clusters National Defense Service Medal Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War On Terrorism Service Medal Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border Air Force Longevity Service with two oak leaf clusters USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster Air Force Basic Military Training Ribbon OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS 2005 - John L. Levitow Award, Airman Leadership School, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 2006 - Noncommissioned Officer of the 1st Quarter, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, Illinois 2011 - Distinguished Graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Academy, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tennessee 2014 - Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the 3rd Quarter, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, Illinois
2017 - Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the 2nd Quarter, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, Illinois EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Airman First Class - 25 April 2001 Senior Airman - 25 August 2003 Staff Sergeant - 01 June 2005 Technical Sergeant - 01 July 2009 Master Sergeant - 01 July 2012
Master Sergeant Rebecca Collins is a native of Gray, Georgia. Sergeant Collins received her Bachelors in Music Performance from the University of Georgia. In 2000, Sergeant Collins joined the US Air Force and was assigned to the Band of the Air Force Reserve, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. After being stationed close to her hometown for 4 years, Sergeant Collins began an assignment at Sembach Air Base, Germany, with the United States Air Forces in Europe Band; then returned stateside in 2008 to spend 6 years at the US Air Force Band of Mid-America at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Sergeant Collins returned to Germany and the United States Air Forces in Europe Band in January of 2014. Prior to joining the Air Force, Sergeant Collins taught a private clarinet studio and was a member of the Toccoa (Georgia) Symphony Orchestra. She has studied clarinet with Dr. Theodore Jahn, Mr. William Fitzgerald, Mrs. Rebecca Rowell Cooke, and attended Master Classes by Dr. Robert Spring, Dr. Julia Heinen, and John Bruce Yeh. In her free time, Sergeant Collins enjoys spending time with her family, travelling, biking, hiking, and reading.
Bachelor of Music Performance, University of Georgia (Magna cum Laude), 1999
Associate of Instrumental Music/Fine Arts, Community College of the Air Force, 2006
Airman Leadership School, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia (Levitow Award Winner), 2003
Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Lankford Enlisted Professional Military Education Center, McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee (Distinguished Graduate), 2012
Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy Distance Learning Course, Non-Residence, 2013
January - February 2000, student, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
February 2000 – January 2004, Band of the United States Air Force Reserve, Robins AFB, GA
January 2004 – January 2008, United States Air Forces in Europe Band, Sembach AB, Germany
January 2008 – January 2014, United States Air Force Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, IL
January 2014 – present, United States Air Forces in Europe Band, Ramstein AB, Germany
Air Force Commendation Medal, 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, 3rd Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Good Conduct Medal, 3rd Oak Leaf Cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon – Long Tour
Technical Sergeant: 1 May 2009
Mr. Dominik Halnais serves as Plans, Strategy & Special Events Coordinator of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band. A native of Saarbrücken, Germany, Mr. Halnais started working for the Air Force in 2005. He studied Digital Media at the Technical College in Zweibrücken. He holds a bilingual baccalaureate from the Lycée Franco-Allemand in Saarbrücken.
Prior to working at the USAFE Band, Mr. Halnais served as the Central Reservations Supervisor for Air Forces Inns Lodging at Ramstein, worked in the Marketing and Public Affairs field for the Saarländische Rundfunk, IDS Scheer AG and a3 Systems. He speaks German, French, English and Serbo-Croatian.
Herr Dominik Halnais dfungiert als Plan, Strategy & Special Events Koordinator bei der U.S. Air Forces in Europa Band. Geboren in Saarbrücken, begann Herr Halnais seine Karriere bei der Air Force 2005. Er studierte Digitale Medien an der Fachhochschule Zweibrücken. Er besuchte das Deutsch-Französische Gymnasium in Saarbrücken, wo er das billinguale Abitur absolvierte. Vor seiner Tätigkeit bei der USAFE Band arbeitete Herr Halnais als Central Reservations Supervisor für das Air Force Inns Hiotel in Ramstein, arbeitete im Bereich Marketing und Public Relations für den Saarländischen Rundfunk, die IDS Scheer AG und die a3 Systems. Er spricht Deutsch, Französisch, Englisch und Serbo-Kroatisch.