Senior Master Sergeant Alejandro Vieira is Section Chief of Administrative Support at the United States Air Force Academy Band, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. He manages the unit’s personnel issues, including Evaluations, Awards & Decorations, Leave, Duty Status, Records Management, and Computers & Information Technology, and performs on multiple instruments across a wide array of musical genres.
SMSgt Vieira enlisted in the United States Air Force in June, 1998, and reported to the United States Air Force Band of the Rockies upon completion of Basic Military Training in San Antonio, Texas. In his 26 years with the Band, he has performed in 6 of the Band’s 9 Music Performance Teams, to include Academy Winds, Rampart Winds, Falconaires, Concert Band, Marching Band and Ceremonial Band. He has traveled extensively in support of the United States Air Force Academy’s outreach missions, including 46 of the 50 United States of America and many countries overseas. He served as Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge and Head Drum Major of the Band’s largest performing group, Marching Band, for 7 years, NCOIC of Academy Winds for 6 years, and has led the Band’s Computer and Supply shops.
In 2016, SMSgt Vieira was selected as Drum Major to lead the Air Force Total Force Marching Band for the 2017 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, training and leading 99 enlisted musicians and 3 officers from 12 Active Duty and Air National Guard units for a nationally televised event for 77 million viewers. In 2009, he deployed to perform with the United States Air Forces Central Command Expeditionary Band “Mirage”, optimizing outreach in 75 performances to 329,000 audience members in 5 nations across SW Asia.
EDUCATION:
1996 Bachelor of Music, Bassoon Performance, Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.
1998 Master of Music, Bassoon Performance, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, Oh.
2005 Non-Commissioned Officers Academy, Forrest L. Vosler NCOA, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2010 Associates of Science, Music, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Academy, Correspondence Course, Maxwell, AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. August 1998 – October 2003, Premier Band Craftsman, USAF Band of the Rockies, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
2. November 2003 – May 2011, Premier Band Craftsman, USAF Academy Band, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
3. June 2011 – May 2016, Regional Band Craftsman, Bassoon, USAF Academy Band, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
4. May 2016 – September 2017 Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, Music Performance Team “Academy Winds”, USAF Academy Band, Peterson AFB, Colo.
5. October 2017 – April 2018, Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, Supply, USAF Academy Band, Peterson AFB, Colo.
6. May 2018 – Dec 2018, Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, Music Performance Team “Marching Band”, USAF Academy Band, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
7. January 2019 – Present, Section Chief, Administrative Support, USAF Academy Band, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award with 5 oak leaf clusters
AF Good Conduct Medal with 5 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
Air and Space Longevity Service Award with 5 oak leaf clusters
USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol)
Air and Space Training Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
2005 Distinguished Graduate, Non-Commissioned Officers Academy
2010 Non-Commissioned Officer of the 1st Quarter, USAFA Band
2010 Musician of the 4th Quarter, USAFA Band
2010 Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year, USAFA Band
2011 Musician of the 3rd Quarter, USAFA Band
2012 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the 4th Quarter, USAFA Band
2016 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the 2nd Quarter, USAFA Band
2017 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the 2nd Quarter, USAFA Band
2018 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the 1st Quarter, USAFA Band
2021 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the 2nd Quarter, USAFA Band
2021 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the 2nd Quarter, HQ USAFA
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Airman First Class June 17, 1998
Technical Sergeant August 8, 1998
Master Sergeant August 1, 2011
Senior Master Sergeant April 1, 2021
(CURRENT AS OF 29 AUGUST 2024)