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Major Daniel W Boothe

Major Daniel W. Boothe serves as Commander of the Air National Guard Band of the Southwest and as a civilian serves as the Music Director & Conductor of the Symphonicity Orchestra and Chorus of Virginia Beach. His previous assignments include Chief of Public Affairs at the 113th Wing of the D.C. Air National Guard, Assistant Director of Operations for the Air Force Band in Washington D.C., Chief of Engagements for the 23rd Secretary of the Air Force, Commander of the United States Air Force Band of Flight, and Assistant to the Chief of Staff for Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command.

While deployed as officer-in-charge of the Air Forces Central Command Band in Southwest Asia, his vision led to ground-breaking U.S. military performances at Jazz at Lincoln Center Doha and secured first-ever live American performances on Afghanistan's second largest radio station for over 2.5 million listeners. His distinctive leadership earned a world-wide Air Force Outstanding Communication Company Grade Officer of the Year award and two Headquarters Officer of the Year awards. His unit was twice recognized with an Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, and under his direction earned the highest international award for military bands, the Colonel George S. Howard Citation of Musical Excellence from the John Philip Sousa Foundation.

As Chief of Public Affairs for the 113th Wing of the D.C. Air National Guard, Major Boothe led critical communication and media outreach tactics for an emergency Civil Disturbance mission in Washington D.C. At the Pentagon he co-authored official Air Force public outreach sequestration policy and personally coordinated congressional, media and community communication tactics for the Secretary of the Air Force. His management of the Air Force Chief of Staff "Community Leader Visits Program" brought together municipal and think-tank leaders across the country with the top senior officers of the Air Force, earning him recognition as an Air Force Headquarters Public Affairs Officer of the Year. 

He has led multiple Full Honors Funerals at Arlington National Cemetery with the Air Force Ceremonial Brass, produced numerous albums and video products for Air Force bands, and was selected as music conductor for the Air Force Band Airmen of Note in the 2016 Hallmark Channel broadcast of the National Christmas Tree Lighting concert hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama and featuring many GRAMMY-winning artists. 

Major Boothe earned a Bachelor of Music in Composition (magna cum laude) from Radford University and a Master of Music in Conducting from George Mason University. He has served as Director of Percussion at Radford University, Visiting Artist at the University of Virginia's College at Wise and Music Adjunct Faculty for Old Dominion University. He received his commission through Officer Training School, Maxwell, Alabama in October 2009 as an Air Force Band Officer and in October 2011 qualified with honors as a Public Affairs Officer through the Defense Information School at Ft. Meade, Maryland. He joined the Air National Guard as a Public Affairs Officer in September 2017 and was selected for command of the Air National Guard Band of the Southwest in March 2021.