Master Sergeant Charles Cothran

MSgt Charles M. Cothran, pianist, United States Air Force Band of the Pacific-Asia, Yokota Air Base, Japan.

 

Joining the Air Force in 2009, Master Sergeant Cothran was assigned to the Band of Liberty at Hanscom Air Force Base (AFB), MA and served as Jazz band operations representative. In 2013, he was assigned to the Band of Mid-America at Scott AFB, IL where he served as music director for the rock band: Starlifter. While assigned to the Band of Mid-America, he participated in a 3-month deployment which countered the adversary’s public communication strategy, built partnerships with allied nations, and boosted morale of deployed soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines.

 

Originally hailing from Pensacola, FL, Master Sergeant Cothran pursued his Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Piano Performance from the University of West Florida in 2007 and his Master of Arts in Jazz piano performance from the University of New Orleans in 2009. Prior to joining the Air Force, he held such positions as Music Director for Pensacola Little Theater. In addition to his academic pursuits, Master Sergeant Cothran studied with renowned artists Vince Maggio, Fabio Bidini, Oxana Yablaskaya and Victor Atkins

 

2007 Bachelor of Music Degree, University of West Florida, Pensacola

2009 Master of Arts Degree, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana

2009 Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas

2013 Airmen Leadership School, Scott AFB, Illinois

2014 Associate of Arts Degree, Community College of the Air Force

2016 Non-Commissioned Officer Distance Learning Course, Course 15

2019 In-residence Non-Commissioned Officer Academy (NCOA), Kadena Air Base (AB), Okinawa, Japan

2020 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I, Distance Learning Course

 

1. May 2009 - July 2009, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas

2. August 2009 - December 2012, Pianist, Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

3. January 2013 - April 2019, Pianist, Scott AFB, Illinois (May 2014 – Aug 2014, Pianist, AFCENT Band, Al Udied AB, Qatar)

4. May 2019 – Present, Section Chief, Operations, Yokota AB, Japan

 

Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster

Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster

Humanitarian Service Medal

National Defense Service Medal

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

Honor Graduate Basic Military Training

Expert Marksman with one oak leaf cluster

 

Amn of the Year 2011, USAF Band of Liberty

Amn of the Year 2012, USAF Band of Liberty

NCO of the Year 2019, USAF Band of the Pacific - Yokota

NCO of the Year 2020, USAF Band of the Pacific - Yokota

Col Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award

Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award

PACE (Public Affairs Communication Excellence) Award

Distinguished Graduate, NCOA

Academic Excellence, NCOA

 

SAPR Volunteer Victim Advocate – Level 1 D-SAACP certified

 

 

(Current as of April 2022)