Master Sergeant Jennifer S. Kost, a native of Lafayette, Louisiana, is the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the Band of the West's newest woodwind ensemble Nightwatch. Sergeant Kost plays the oboe and is a Green Dot Implementer for Joint Base San Antonio. Prior to entering the Air Force, she served as principal oboist with the Boulder Chorale, Boulder Chamber Group, and Louisiana Sinfonietta, and the Natchez Opera Festival Orchestra. She is also a member of the Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Kappa Lambda honor societies and is currently endeavoring to obtain her Alexander Technique Certification.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelors of Music Degree in Oboe Performance, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
2005 Masters of Music Degree in Oboe Performance, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
2010 Airman Leadership School, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2016 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Distance Learning Course
2016 Associate's Degree in Fine and Applied Art-Music, Community College of the Air Force
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Oct 2005 – Dec 2005, student, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. Dec 2005 – Sept 2012, oboist, USAF Band of Flight, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
3. Oct 2012 – Jun 2015, oboist, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
4. Jun 2015 – Jul 2017, oboist, USAF Band of the West, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
5. Jul 2017 – Aug 2018, Executive Assistant to the Air Force Recruiting Service Command Chief, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
6. Aug 2018 - Jun 2024, oboist, USAF Band of the West, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
7. Jun 2024 - Present, oboist, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott Air Force Base, IL
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2007 USAF Band of Flight Airman of the Quarter, April - June
2008 AFSA Kittyhawk Chapter 751, Band Member of the Year
2009 USAF Band of Flight Airman of the Quarter, July - September
2009 HQ/AFMC Airman of the Quarter, July - September
2011 USAF Band of Flight Non-Commissioned Officer of the Quarter, October - December
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Technical Sergeant - 1 October 2016