Staff Sergeant Andrew Detra serves as a bassist for the Air Force Band of the Pacific at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
Joining the Air Force in 2011, SSgt Detra was assigned to the USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, IL where he served as a bassist. In 2014 he was assigned to the AF Band of the Pacific at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hawaii where he serves as a bassist and musical director for our jazz trio. While assigned to the Band of the Pacific he has participated in multiple international tours to locations such as Japan, Australia, Samoa, New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Originally from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, Sergeant Detra pursued a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire. Prior to joining the Air Force, he supported himself by playing Orchestral, Jazz and Commercial music. He has performed with the St. Louis Philharmonic, Maui Pops and Maui Chamber Orchestra, Hawaii Symphony as well as Jazz bands in Honolulu, St Louis, and Minneapolis.
EDUCATION
2011 Bachelors of Music, University Wisconsin Eau Claire
2016 Associates in Music, Community College of the Air Force
2017 Airman Leadership School, Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Dec 2011 - Jan 2014 Band of Mid-America, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
2. Jan 2014 - Nov 2015 Band of the Pacific Hawaii, Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hawaii
3. Nov 2015 - Feb 2016 U.S. Air Force Central Band Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
4. Feb 2016 – Present Band of the Pacific Hawaii, Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hawaii
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award
AF Outstanding Unit Award
AF Organizational Excellence Award, with one oak leaf cluster
AF Good Conduct Medal with one oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
AF Overseas Ribbon Long
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
AF Longevity Service
USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon star
AF Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class - 27 Sep 2011
Senior Airmen - 27 Jan 2014
Staff Sergeant - 01 Sep 2017