Senior Master Sergeant Jason P. Foster is the Superintendent and Senior Enlisted Leader for the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific-Asia, Yokota Air Base, Japan. He advises the Commander and provides oversight over all administrative and musical functions by directing personnel, resources, training, readiness, and management to support the mission, vision and priorities of the organization. In previous assignments, Sergeant Foster has served as the Additional Duty First Sergeant, Section Chief of Resources, Executive Noncommissioned Officer, Unit Deployment Manager, Organizational Defense Travel Administrator, Agency Program Coordinator and Chief of Records
In 2010, Sergeant Foster deployed as the Advon for the ensemble "Vector" to Southwest Asia, where he helped support the morale of U.S. and coalition troops and promoted diplomacy and outreach to host nation communities. In 2014, he deployed in support of Overseas Contingency Operations as the Director of Operations for the U.S. Air Forces Central Band (USAFCENT). While there, he led four teams to leverage the power of music to bolster the morale of U.S. and coalition troops and strengthen partnerships throughout 12 countries in Southwest Asia. In 2019, Sergeant Foster deployed to Al Udeid Air Base as the Senior Enlisted Leader and Superintendent for the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing’s Host Nation Coordination Cell where he led 41 military and contract members across nine executive functions directly supporting counter Iranian deterrence for Operations INHERENT RESOLVE, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, and SPARTAN SHIELD.
Prior to joining the Air Force in 2004, he was a member of the United States Continental Army Band at Fort Monroe, Va and taught public school music in Midland and Odessa, Texas. He has also performed with the Virginia Symphony, Virginia Opera, and Richmond Symphony. He is a native of Fort Worth, Texas.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor’s Degree, Music Performance, The University of Texas, Austin
1999 Master’s Degree, Music Performance, Indiana University, Bloomington
2001 Primary Leadership Development Course, Fort Knox, Ky
2005 Airman Leadership School, Langley Air Force Base (AFB), Va.
2008 Associate Degree, Applied Science, Community College of the Air Force, Montgomery, Ala.
2009 Certificate of Business Management, Strayer University, Newport News
2011 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Organizational Management, Ashford University, Clinton
2012 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, National Defense University, Norfolk, distance learning
2012 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Gunter Annex, Montgomery, Ala.
2012 Completed 6 courses towards MBA, American Military University, Charles Town, WVa.
2013 Senior Noncommissioned Course 14, Air University Online, Montgomery, Ala., distance learning
2013 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force, Montgomery
2014 A+ Certified, Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTia), Downers Grove, Ill.
2014 IT Project Management Essentials Certification, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va., distance learning
2015 Military Requirements for Chief Petty Officer, Pensacola, Fla., distance learning
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, NDU, Norfolk, Va, distance learning
2017 Certified Continuous Process Improvement Facilitator Course, Langley AFB, Hampton, Va.
2018 Certified Associate in Project Management, Project Management Institute, Virginia Beach, Va.
2020 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Gunter Annex, Montgomery, Ala.
2021 Intermediate Cross-Cultural Competence and Regional Course (INDOPACOM), Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, Calif.
2021 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate, Univ. of South Florida, Tampa, Fla., distance learning
2021 Japanese Language I, The University of Maryland Global Campus, Yokota, AB, Japan
2022 Institute of Certified Professional Managers Certificate, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va., distance learning
2023 Japanese Language II, The University of Maryland Global Campus, Yokota, AB, Japan
2023 Japanese Language III, The University of Maryland Global Campus, Yokota, AB, Japan
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2000 – September 2000, Trainee, 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry Regiment, 4th Training Brigade, Fort Jackson, SC
2. September 2000 – October 2000, Trainee, United States Army School of Music, Little Creek, Va.
3. October 2000 – January 2004, Trombonist and Publicity Clerk, US Continental Army Band, Fort Monroe, Va.
4. March 2004 – September 2012, NCOIC Heritage Brass, USAF Heritage of America Band, Langley AFB, Va. (Deployed April – June 2010, Trombone/Advon, USAFCENT Band)
5. September 2012 – March 2015, Unit Deployment Manager, USAF Band of the Pacific-Asia, Yokota AB, Japan (Deployed November 2013 – May 2014, Director of Operations, USAFCENT Band)
6. March 2015 – June 2021, Section Chief, Resources/Full-Time Additional Duty First Sergeant, USAF Heritage of America Band, LAFB, Va. (Deployed July 2019 – January 2020, Senior Enlisted Leader/Superintendent Immigrations, Host Nation Coordination Cell, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing)
7. June 2021 – present, Senior Enlisted Leader, USAF Band of the Pacific, Yokota AB, Japan
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award
Humanitarian Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal with bronze star
German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge, silver rating
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2005 John L. Levitow Award, Airman Leadership School
2009 “Best Auditions Coordinator in the Air Force” – 3N1 Career Field Manager
2009 USAF Heritage of America Band, NCO of the Year
2011 USAF Heritage of America Band, NCO of the Year
2014 USAF Band of the Pacific, NCO of the Year
2014 HQ PACAF/Public Affairs (PA), NCO of the Year
2016 USAF Heritage of America Band, Volunteer of the Year
2016 HQ ACC/PA, Volunteer of the Year
2017 Joint Base Langley-Eustis Volunteer Service Member of the Year
2019 379th AEW/WSA, Superintendent for Team of the 3rd Quarter
2019 USAF Heritage of America Band, SNCO of the Year
2019 HQ ACC/PA, SNCO of the Year
2019 USAF Heritage of America Band (Resources Section) Team Excellence Yearly Award
2022 USAF Band of the Pacific, SNCO of the Year
2022 HQ PACAF/PA, SNCO of the Year
2023 Brigadier General Harry J. Dalton Jr. Team Award, PACAF, Communications Excellence
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Member for Life, Air Force Sergeants Association
Fiscal Review Team Lead, American Red Cross
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Specialist (USA) June 2, 2000
Sergeant (USA) October 1, 2001
Staff Sergeant (USA) November 1, 2004
Staff Sergeant (USAF) March 1, 2005
Technical Sergeant (USAF) February 1, 2011
Master Sergeant (USAF) December 1, 2015
Senior Master Sergeant (USAF) July 1, 2020
(Current as of March 2024)