Master Sergeant (MSgt) Jonathan J. Rattay, a native of Plano, Texas, is a musician in the United States Air Force (USAF) Heritage of America Band. Sergeant Rattay is a graduate of the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University (SMU) and The Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM). Additionally, Sergeant Rattay studied trumpet performance in Paris as part of the SMU-in-Paris program. His former teachers include Glen Bell, Bert Truax, and Thomas Booth of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra; James Darling and Michael Sachs of the Cleveland Orchestra; and international trumpet soloist Guy Touvron, a prodigy of the late Maurice Andre. Currently, Sergeant Rattay is the Section Chief of Publicity. He oversees 14 personnel and 2 work centers to include Productions and Marketing/Social Media.
In 2005, Sergeant Rattay deployed to Soutwest Asia to Ali Al Salem, Kuwait, in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM as a Third Country National (TCN) Escort. In the summer of 2010, he again deployed to Southwest Asia with the Air Force’s Central Command (AFCENT) Band, Vector, and provided support for troops and coalition partners while performing 52 shows in 70 days throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait. One of Sergeant Rattay’s memorable performances during his career was the honor of performing Taps for Brigadier General Charles “Chuck” Yeager’s memorial service in Charleston, West Virginia in 2021.
From 2005 to 2008, MSgt Rattay was a member of the Texas Air National Guard (ANG) Band of the Gulf Coast in Fort Worth. He also worked as a civilian train dispatcher for Burlington North Santa Fe, before returning to active duty for an assignment with the USAF Heritage of America Band.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Music, Trumpet Performance, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX
2000 Master of Music, Trumpet Performance, The Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland, OH
2004 Airman Leadership School, Hanscom AFB, MA
2007 Certificate in Railroad Dispatching, Tarrant County Community College, Ft. Worth, TX
2014 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Tyndall AFB, FL
2015 Associate of Applied Science, Music, Community College of the Air Force
2016 Joint Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Military Education Course I
2019 Joint Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Military Education Course II
ASSIGNMENTS
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322nd/323rd Squadron, Basic Military Training, JBSA-Lackland, TX (May 2000 – Jul 2000)
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USAF Band of Liberty, Hanscom AFB, MA (Jul 2000 - Dec 2005)
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386th AEW (Force Protection), Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait (May 2005 - Sep 2005)
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Texas ANG Band of the Gulf Coast, NAS Fort Worth JRB, TX (Dec 2005 - Jul 2008)
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USAF Heritage of America Band, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA (Jul 2008 – Present)
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AFCENT Band, Al Udeid AB, Qatar (Apr 2010 – Jun 2010)
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with Valor
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War On Terrorism Service Medal
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold border with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Longevity Service with five oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 'M' Device
USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon with three oak leaf clusters
USAF Basic Military Training Honor Graduate
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with Bronze Star
Air and Space Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman 1st Class 24 May 2000
Senior Airman 26 Sep 2002
Staff Sergeant 01 Jun 2004
Technical Sergeant 01 Nov 2012
Master Sergeant 01 Nov 2017
(Current as of March 2025)