Technical Sergeant (TSgt) Helena Giammarco plays horn with the United States Air Force (USAF) Heritage of America Air Force Band at Langley AFB, Virginia. Sergeant Giammarco started her military career in the United States Navy in 2004, where she played horn and soloed in concert with the Pacific Fleet Navy Band at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. She participated in the 2007 International Military Band Tattoo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, that celebrated the 50th anniversary of Malaysia’s Independence.
TSgt Giammarco joined the Air Force in 2013 and was stationed with the USAF Band of Mid-America at Scott Air Force Base, where she performed as Music Director and Operations Representative for multiple music performance teams. During this time, she also joined the Language Enabled Airman Program. Capitalizing on her German language skills, she translated documents for the medical group, and in 2017, she was one of three panelists for the Air Force Culture and Language Center Symposium discussion on the deliberate development of Airmen to operate with international Air Forces.
Sergeant Giammarco joined the Heritage of America Band at Langley Air Force Base in 2020. In addition to performing and leading the horn section, she has been the Noncommissioned Officer In Charge of the social media team, manager of the band chamber music recital series, Government Purchase Card Assistant Manager, and Assistant Director of Operations. Additionally, she is very active in her base and local communities. She was elected Secretary of the Langley Club 5/6 and has dedicated countless hours to the Virginia Peninsula Food Bank. Sergeant Giammarco has studied with multiple internationally acclaimed horn teachers, has won multiple prizes in horn and chamber music, has published articles in scholarly journals, and holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Music, Horn Performance, Royal Academy of Music, London, UK
2003 Master of Music, Horn Performance, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
2013 Doctorate of Musical Arts, Catholic University of America, Washington DC
2014 Prior Service, Sister Service Course, Lackland Air Force Base, TX
2014 Airman Leadership School, Scott AFB, IL
2017 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Non-Residence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Oct 2005 - Oct 2008, Pacific Fleet Navy Band, Pearl Harbor Naval Station, HI
2. Dec 2013 - May 2019, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, IL
3. Jun 2020 - present, USAF Heritage of America Air Force Band, Langley AFB, VA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Commendation Medal Air Force Achievement Medal Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Navy Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon Air Force Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Petty Officer Third Class February 11, 2005
Senior Airman December 19, 2013
Staff Sergeant October 1, 2015
Technical Sergeant August 1, 2023
(Current as of August 2023)