Master Sergeant (MSgt) Ryan Heseltine, a native of Burke, Virginia, performs on French Horn in the United States Air Force (USAF) Heartland of America Band. He is the Section Chief of Resources, and a member of Offutt Brass. A few years ago, MSgt Heseltine had the opportunity to assist the United States Air Forces in Europe Band on a collaborative effort with local German musicians to perform a large-scale combined performance around the Kaiserslautern region. This event, hosted by both German and USAF military leadership, was a tremendous success in reinforcing the long-standing relationship between the armed forces of the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Prior to his Air Force career, MSgt Heseltine earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Horn Performance from Arizona State University in 1997, as well as a Master of Music Performance degree from Illinois State University in 1999. His primary teachers have been Thomas Bacon and Dr. Joe Neisler. He has been a member of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra in Illinois, as well as the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra in Alaska. Additionally, he has performed with both the Kansas City and Omaha Symphonies. He has shared the stage with brass virtuosi such as Patrick Sheridan, Vincent DiMartino, and Joseph Alessi.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Music Performance, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
1999 Master of Music Performance, Illinois State University, Normal, IL
2003 Airman Leadership School, Langley AFB, VA
2010 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Tyndall AFB, FL
2019 Project Manager Professional (PMP) Certification
2019 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1999-August 2004, USAF Heritage of America Band, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA
2. August 2004-August 2007, USAF Band of the Pacific, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK
3. August 2007-June 2013, USAF Heartland of America Band, Offutt AFB, NE
4. June 2013-April 2021, USAF Heritage of America Band, Joint-Base Langley-Eustis, VA
5. May 2021-present, USAF Heartland of America Band, Offutt AFB, NE
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class May 19, 1999
Senior Airman September 19, 2001
Staff Sergeant June 1, 2003
Technical Sergeant June 1, 2008
Master Sergeant June 1, 2012
(Current as of December 2020)