Master Sergeant Mike Correa is a percussionist with the United States Air Force Band of Mid America where he performs with the Concert Band, Marching Band, and the Airlifter Brass Quintet.
Sergeant Correa is a native of Binghamton, New York. He graduated from the Ithaca College School of Music in 1998 with a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance and Education. In 2000 Sergeant Correa completed a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Master Sergeant Correa enlisted in the Air Force in 2006, and upon completion of Basic Training was assigned to the United States Air Force Band of Liberty in Massachusetts. As a member of the Band of Liberty he performed with the Concert Band, Ceremonial Band, Brass Quintet, Afterburner Rock Band, and was a member of the Afterburner deployment band in 2012.
Sergeant Correa spent a number of years as a music educator and freelance musician prior to enlisting in the United States Air Force. He was the head of the music department at the Tilton School in Tilton, New Hampshire from 2001-2003, Wind Ensemble and Orchestra Director at the Saint Stevens and Saint Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia from 2003-2005, and Director of Percussion Studies at the Performing Arts Institute of Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, Pennsylvania from 1998-2006. Sergeant Correa has also performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention and with a number of orchestras including the Binghamton Symphony, the BC Pops, the Richmond Symphony, and the Northern Kentucky Symphony.
Sergeant Correa's military decorations include the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
EDUCATION:
1998 Bachelor's degree in Music Education and Performance, Ithaca College School of Music, NY
2000 Master's degree in Music Performance, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, OH
2010 Airman Leadership School, Hanscom Air Force Base, MA
ASSIGNMENTS:
March 2006 - June 2013, percussion, USAF Band of Liberty, Hanscom AFB, MA
June 2013 - Present, percussion, USAF Band of Mid America, Scott AFB, IL
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Air Force Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION:
Airman First Class 16 February 2006
Senior Airman 16 June 2008
Staff Sergeant 1 June 2010
Technical Sergeant 1 Jan 2016
Master Sergeant 1 Nov 2019