Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Brian Lumpkin serves as an Audio Engineer with the United States Air Force (USAF) Heritage of America Band. From Mesa, Arizona, SSgt Lumpkin holds two Associate degrees in Audio Production Technologies (AAS), and General Studies (AS) with Emphasis in Sound Design for Theatre and Film, from Mesa Community College, Mesa, Arizona (Magna Cum Laude). Instructors include Andy Seagle, Keith Heffner, and Tina Makris. He has studied music performance with Robert Hunter, Eric Haenfler, Bill Bitter, and Kevin Bennett, and individually studied percussion performance with Wardell King. SSgt Lumpkin has attended Audio Engineering masterclasses with Robert Scovill (Avid, Tom Petty Front of House), Clive Alcock (Diana Krall Front of House), Karl Winkler (Lectrosonics), Patrick Killianey (Yamaha Professional Audio), Pat Brown (Pro Sound Training), and Todd Wines (Miranda Lambert Front of House).
Prior to enlisting in 2009, SSgt Lumpkin spent time as a freelance Audio Engineer, Stagehand, and Theatre Sound Designer. He received a nomination to the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for his Sound Design and original music composition for Henrik Ibsen’s, “An Enemy of the People”, representing the Mesa Community College Theatre Department. During his enlistment, SSgt Lumpkin has traveled the world providing audio support for the Serbian Military Binički Band, South African Air Force Entertainment band, 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, and many more within the European, African and Indo-Pacific region. In 2017, SSgt Lumpkin performed as the co-lead engineer for the Ystad Military Tattoo in Sweden leading 3 separate multinational production teams, overseeing the audio requirements for 9 performing ensembles. It was a tremendous privilege to represent and perform as an American Airman for the many different nations.
SSgt Lumpkin has deployed multiple times to Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates and other locations throughout the Southwest Asia region in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve, Freedom’s Sentinel, and the Resolute Support Mission.
EDUCATION
2006 Associate of Applied Science, Audio Production Technologies, Mesa Community College, Mesa, AZ
2008 Associate of Science, General Studies with Emphasis in Sound Design for Theatre and Film, Mesa Community College, Mesa, AZ
2008 Arizona General Education Certificate, Mesa Community College, Mesa, AZ
2015 Airman Leadership School, Yokota Air Base, Japan
2019 Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Enhancement Course, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Jul 2009 - Apr 2012, USAF Band of the West, Lackland AFB, TX
2. April 2012 - Apr 2016, USAF Band of the Pacific-Asia, Yokota Air Base, Japan
3. Jun 2016 - Jul 2020, United States Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
4. Aug 2020 - present, USAF Heritage of America Band, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air and Space Achievement Medal, 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award, 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
AF Good Conduct Medal, 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, 1 Service Star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air and Space Overseas Service Ribbon Long, 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border, 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon
Air and Space Longevity Service Award, 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, 1 Service Star
Air and Space Training Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2014 Airman of the Quarter, 2nd Quarter, USAF Band of the Pacific-Asia
2014 Airman of the Quarter, 2nd Quarter, Headquarters PACAF
2020 Musician of the Quarter, 3rd Quarter, Heritage of America Band
2020 Musician of the Quarter, 4th Quarter, Heritage of America Band
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman 1st Class 26 May 2009
Senior Airman 27 Sep 2011
Staff Sergeant 01 Sep 2015
(Current as of February 2025)