Senior Master Sergeant Jerry L. Kelley, a native of Knoxville, Tennessee. He is currently Superintendent of the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America as well as guitarist for various groups in the organization.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Sergeant Kelley holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Studio Music and Jazz. Sergeant Kelley's teachers have included Jerry Coker, Mark Bolling and Matthew Von Doran.
During his career, Sergeant Kelley has performed with Chuck Mangione, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Tom Coster, Frank Gamboli, and the Anchorage Symphony. He has also deployed two times with the Band of Mid-America in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn.
In 1992, Sergeant Kelley auditioned for the U. S. Air Force Bands & Music Program and was assigned to the Heritage of America Band, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. After an assignment in 1999 with the Band of the Pacific, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, Sergeant Kelley arrived at Scott AFB in 2007.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
AF Organizational Excellence Award
AF Good Conduct Medal
Air Force Recognition Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star
Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
AF Overseas Ribbon Long
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border with one oak leaf cluster
AF Longevity Service
USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon
AF Training Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVMENTS
Heritage of America Band Airman of the Year 1997
Band of the Pacific NCO of the Year 2003
Pacific Air Forces NCO of the Year 2003
Band of Mid-America as NCO of the year 2008
SNCO of the year for 2010 and 2011
Musician of the Year, Band of Mid-America 2012
AF Media Contest - First place for "Most Outstanding Original Recording" 2011
2016 Outstanding Communications SNCO of the Year, Scott AFB, Illinois
EDUCATION
1984 - Diploma Winter Park High School, Winter Park Florida
1991 - Bachelor of Music, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Tennessee
1997- Airman Leadership School, Langley AFB
2006 - NCO Academy, Elmendorf AFB
2010 - Associates Degree, Music, Community College of the Air Force
2011 - Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Course 14, Non-Residence
2012- Senior Enlisted Joint PME Course (non-residence), Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA
2012 - Professional Managers Certification - Community College of the Air Force
ASSIGNMENTS
1992 Heritage of America Band, Langley AFB, Virginia
1999 Band of the Pacific, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
2007 Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, Illinois
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class - 29 JUN 1992
Senior Airman - 29 OCT 1994
Staff Sergeant - 01 FEB 1999
Technical Sergeant - 01 NOV 2004
Master Sergeant - 01 FEB 2010
Senior Master Sergeant - 01 Apr 2016