SMSgt Ryan Leatherman is Superintendent and saxophonist at the Air Force Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, IL.
Joining the Air Force in May 2009, Sergeant Leatherman was assigned to the USAF Band of the West, Joint Base San Antonio Lackland, TX and served as a saxophone player. In 2014 he was assigned to the USAF Band of the Pacific at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, HI where he served as a saxophone player, Section Chief of Operations and Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of two music performance teams, leading international missions in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea. Since joining the Band of Mid-America in 2019, he has served as Section Chief of Publicity.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Music, Saxophone Performance w/Jazz Concentration, Drake University, Des Moines, Ia.
2008 Master of Music, Saxophone Performance, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Il.
2008 Master of Music, Jazz Performance, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Il.
2012 Airman Leadership School, Joint Base San Antonio, Tex.
2013 Associate in Applied Science, Music, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2018 Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I
2020 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, McGhee Tyson Air Force Base, Ten.
2020 Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II
2023 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
May – July 2009, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Tex.
July 2009 – August 2014, Regional Band, Saxophone, USAF Band of the West, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Tex.
September 2014 – April 2016, Regional Band, Saxophone, USAF Band of the Pacific, Join Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hi.
May 2016 – April 2017, NCOIC, Music Performance Team, USAF Band of the Pacific, Join Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hi.
October 2017 – July 2019, Section Chief, Operations, USAF Band of the Pacific, Join Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hi.
August 2019 – April 2021, NCOIC, Productions, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott Air Force Base, Il.
May 2021 – May 2023, Section Chief, Publicity, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott Air Force Base, Il.
May 2023 – present, Superintendent, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott Air Force Base, Il.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2011 Senior Airman Below-the Zone
2012 John L. Levitow Award, Airman Leadership School
2017 Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year
2020 Distinguished Graduate, Non-Commissioned Officer Academy
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Lifetime Member, Air Force Sergeants Association
Member, Air Force Association
Member, North American Saxophone Alliance
President, Scott Air Force Base Top III Association
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class 26 May 2009
Senior Airman 26 March 2011
Staff Sergeant 1 April 2013
Technical Sergeant 1 April 2017
Master Sergeant 1 May 2020
Senior Master Sergeant 1 March 2023
(Current as of June 2024)