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Technical Sergeant Joseph Whitt

Technical Sergeant Joseph R. Whitt is the Resource Advisor for the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific, Yokota Air Base, Japan. He performs on double bass and electric bass, supporting U.S. Pacific Air Forces missions through multinational military and community engagement events.

Since joining the Air Force in 2009, Sergeant Whitt has served with the USAF Band of the Golden West, USAFE Band at Ramstein Air Base, and the Band of Flight at Wright-Patterson AFB. He has also served as Section Chief of Readiness, Director of Operations, and Additional Duty First Sergeant.

Whitt has performed with international military bands including the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force Band, the Ukraine Presidential Orchestra, and the Rwanda Defense Forces Band. He has been featured as a soloist with the Ukraine National Symphony and Moldova National Symphony. His civilian performance credits include concerts with the San Francisco Symphony, The Orlando Philharmonic, and the Monterey Jazz Festival.

He is also a film composer and scored the short film The Rounder Comes to Town.

Sergeant Whitt deployed in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, ALLIES REFUGE, and ALLIES WELCOME, coordinating logistics for Air Forces Central Command Band tours throughout the Middle East and supporting U.S. embassies in the region.

EDUCATION

  • 2003 Bachelor of Arts, Double Bass Performance, University of Central Florida

  • 2005 Master of Arts, Double Bass Performance, Temple University

  • 2009 Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas

  • 2010 Combat Airman Skills Training, Guernsey, Wyo.

  • 2013 Airman Leadership School, Kapaun Air Station, Germany

  • 2014 Associate degree, Music, Community College of the Air Force

  • 2018 Kisling NCO Academy, Kapaun Air Station, Germany

  • 2020 Project Management Certification, PMI

  • 2021 USAF Master Resilience Trainer, Air University

ASSIGNMENTS

  1. Sep 2009 – Dec 2012, Bassist, USAF Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, Calif.

  2. Jan 2013 – Jan 2021, Bassist, USAFE Band, Ramstein AB, Germany

  3. Jan 2021 – Jul 2023, Readiness Section Chief, Band of Flight, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio

  4. Aug 2023 – Present, Resource Advisor, Band of the Pacific, Yokota AB, Japan

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

  • Air Force Commendation Medal

  • Joint Service Achievement Medal

  • Air and Space Achievement Medal

  • Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award

  • Armed Forces Service Medal

  • Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border

  • Air Force Good Conduct Medal

  • National Defense Service Medal

  • Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

  • Air and Space Longevity Service Award

  • USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon

  • Air and Space Training Ribbon

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

  • 2022 Public Affairs Communication Excellence Award

  • 2022 Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award

  • 2024 PACAF Public Affairs Action Officer of the 3rd Quarter

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

  • Airman First Class – 28 Aug 2009

  • Senior Airman (BTZ) – 23 Apr 2011

  • Staff Sergeant – 1 Dec 2013

  • Technical Sergeant – 1 Mar 2018

(Current as of May 2025)