Master Sergeant George Father plays trombone with the Heartland of America Band, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. He has also an accomplished arranger, and has been featured on vocals, euphonium, and tuba.
Sergeant Father studied trombone with Dr. Mark Hartman and Dr. Ava Ordman, and tuba with Dr. Charles Guy and Dr. Phil Sinder. In addition to his tenure with the Band of the West, Sergeant Father performed with the Dave Holland Big Band, Battle Creek Symphony, West Shore Symphony, Lansing Symphony, Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony, Anchorage Symphony, Omaha Symphony and was in the traveling pit orchestra for “The Producers.” Sergeant Father was also a Professor of Trombone at Lansing Community College and a Teaching Assistant at Michigan State University.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Music Performance, Minor Jazz Studies, Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam, NY
2005 Master of Music Performance, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI
2010 Airman Leadership School, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
2014 Associate of Music, Community College of the Air Force
2017 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, K AB, Germany
2017 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I
2018 USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Non-Residence
2018 Professional Managers Certificate, Community College of the Air Force
2020 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II
ASSIGNMENTS
October 2005 – July 2008, Trombone, Band of Liberty, Hanscom AFB, MA
July 2008 – August 2011, Trombone, Band of the Pacific, Elmendorf AFB, AK
August 2011 – November 2014, Trombone, Heartland of America Band, Offutt AFB, NE
November 2014 – November 2018, Trombone, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band, Ramstein AB, Germany
December 2018 – December 2022, Trombone, Band of the West, JBSA, TX
December 2022 – Present, Trombone, Heartland of America Band, Offutt AFB, NE
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal, 3rd oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal, 1st oak leaf cluster
AF Outstanding Unit Award, 4th Oak Leaf Cluster
AF Organizational Excellence Award
Air Force Good Conduct Medal, 4th oak leaf cluster
Humanitarian Service Medal
Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal, 1st service star
Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Long, 1st oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Air Force Longevity Service, 4th oak leaf cluster
Air Force Noncommissioned Officer PME Graduate Ribbon, 1st oak leaf cluster
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Rifle)
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2008 Airman of the First Quarter, Electronic Systems Center Staff
2013 Noncommissioned Officer of the Second Quarter, Air Combat Command Public Affairs
2013 Noncommissioned Officer of the Fourth Quarter, Air Combat Command Public Affairs
2013 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Heartland of America Band
2016 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band
2017 Noncommissioned Officer Academy Distinguished Graduate
2017 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band
2017 Public Affairs Communication Excellence NCO award winner, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs
2018 Public Affairs Communication Excellence NCO award winner, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs
2018 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs
2020 Self-Assessment Program Manager of the 1st Quarter, 502 Air Base Wing
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class Aug. 23, 2005
Senior Airman Dec. 23, 2007
Staff Sergeant Mar 01, 2010
Technical Sergeant Sept. 01, 2016
Master Sergeant Jan 01, 2020