Master Sergeant Adam Porter joined the United States Air Forces in Europe Band, Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany, in November 2016. He currently performs on tuba with Wings of Dixie, Concert Band, and Marching Band. In addition to his musical responsibilities, Sergeant Porter serves as the Section Chief of Operations and as a Master Resilience Trainer for the Air Force.
Hailing from Plymouth, MA, Technical Sergeant Porter graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a B. S. in Music Performance in 1998. Since that time he has had the privilege to study with such teachers as Scott Mendoker, John Manning, Sam Pilafian, Pat Sheridan, Graham Ashton, Jens Lindemann, and Marty Hackleman. He has also attended multiple Institute Brass Quintet Seminars at Boston University Tanglewood featuring The Empire Brass and the Atlantic Brass. Sergeant Porter holds his teaching certification in the state of Massachusetts where he taught in the Gardner Public Schools for four years. Committed to fostering music through education, Sergeant Porter frequently conducts master classes and educational concerts for young musicians. He has been featured on the campuses of the Southern New Hampshire University, UMASS, UCONN, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Lakeside College, The Conservatory of Music at Purchase College-State University of New York, Rowan University, Shepherd College, Phillips Academy, and Bridgewater State College.
In addition to his educational outreach, Sergeant Porter has had numerous performance opportunities. As founding member of the award winning Bala Brass quintet, he has toured the globe appearing in Japan, Russia, Chile, Canada and Thailand. He is very proud of the fact that Bala Brass was the first group of its kind to be invited to participate in the Osaka International Chamber Music Festa in Japan in 2002. They were also awarded the bronze medal at the 2001 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, as well as being honored as a finalist in the 2001 Coleman Chamber Music Competition. Sergeant Porter has been a featured artist at several conferences including the International Trumpet Guild Conference, UCONN Brass Festival, The New York Brass Conference, and NERTEC held at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. In addition, he has recorded with the Albany Symphony, Massachusetts Wind Orchestra, and Bala Brass. Sergeant Porter's keen interest in contemporary music has led him to be instrumental in the commissioning and performance of numerous chamber and solo works for brass. He has participated in the premier performances of music by acclaimed composers like Robert J. Bradshaw, Whitman Brown, Luis Bacalov, Maj. Michael Donovan (USAF Ret), and Salvatore Macchia.
In 2011 Sergeant Porter deployed with Afterburner to Southwest Asia in support of US troops and coalition forces. In addition to performing for troops, he engaged in public concerts as well as educational outreach in local communities throughout Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, U. A. E., Kyrgyzstan, and Qatar. He also provided support for US Ambassadors in many of these places.
EDUCATION
1993 – High School Diploma, Plymouth South High School, Plymouth, MA
1998 – Bachelor of Science in Music Performance, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, MA
1998 – USAF Airman Leadership School Associate Program
2004 – USAF Noncommissioned Officer Academy, McGee-Tyson Air Base, TN
2014 – Associates Degree in Music, Community College of the Air Force
2020 – Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, Course I
2021 – Air Force Master Resilience Trainer Certification, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1993 - October 2000, 567th Air Force Band of Cape Cod, Otis Air National Guard Base, MA
2. October 2000 - March 2010, 567th Air Force Band of the Northeast, JFHQ MA ANG, Milford, MA
3. March 2010 – November 2011, USAF Band of Liberty, ESC/HQ, Hanscom AFB, MA
4. November 2011 - March 2012, Bandsmen, AFCENT Band, USAF Central Command, Southwest Asia Operation Enduring Freedom
5. March 2012 - July 2012, USAF Band of Liberty, AFLCMC, 66th ABG, Hanscom AFB, MA
6. July 2013 – November 2016, USAF Academy Band, Peterson AFB, CO
7. November 2016 – Present, USAF in Europe Band, Ramstein AFB, Germany
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and one oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hour glass
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2015 USAF Academy Band NCO of the Year
2015 USAF Academy Band Public Affairs Excellence in Communications NCO of the Year
2018 Colonel Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician of the Year Award
2019 USAFE Band NCO of the Year
2020 USAFE Band NCO of the Year
2020 USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs NCO of the Year
2020 USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs Lance P. Sijan Award
2021 USAFE Band Public Affairs Excellence in Communications SNCO of the Year
2021 USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs Excellence in Communication Innovation Team of the Year
2021 USAFE Band SNCO of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Master Sergeant , May 2021
(Current as of November 2022)