Master Sergeant Peter Hensel Master Sergeant Peter M. Hensel is a hornist in the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, Illinois. Master Sergeant Hensel is a native of Burr Oak, Wisconsin. He received a bachelor's degree with honors from Carnegie Mellon University in 1984, and a master's degree from the Juilliard School in 1989. Master Sergeant Hensel enlisted in the United States Army in January, 1995. He fulfilled assignments with the Army's 3rd Infantry Division and 1st Infantry Division Bands at Warner Barracks, Bamberg, Germany from 1995-1997. During this time he deployed twice to Bosnia-Herzegovina in US Army and NATO troop morale missions. From 1997-2000, Master Sergeant Hensel was a member of the US Army's Ground Forces Band at Fort McPherson, Georgia, where he performed in five ensembles and participated in two recording projects. In January, 2001, he enlisted in the United States Air Force upon receipt of an assignment to the Band of Mid-America. He served there in numerous ensembles and recording projects. In December, 2010, Master Sergeant Hensel was assigned to the Air Force Band of Flight, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. He was re-assigned to the Band of Mid-America in August, 2013. There he has served as french horn section leader, unit deployment manager and non-commissioned officer in charge of readiness. Master Sergeant Hensel's civilian experience includes membership with symphony and theater orchestras in Mexico and Germany, as well as freelance work with numerous orchestras and ensembles in the Northeast, Southeast and Midwest. He has appeared with such artists as Leonard Rose, Janos Starker, Midori, Nancy Allen, Skitch Henderson, The Irish Tenors, Peter Schickele, Judy Collins and Frank Sinatra Jr., among others. He has also been a member of the Bamberg and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Choruses, and is an alternate member with the Saint Louis Chamber Chorus. His teachers have included Donald Krause, Gordon Campbell, Jerome Ashby, David Wakefield and Fergus McWilliam. Master Sergeant Hensel's military awards and decorations include the Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf cluster, the National Defense Service medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Armed Forces Service Medal. EDUCATION 1984 - Bachelor of Fine Arts w/ University Honors, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1989 - Master of Music, The Juilliard School, New York City, New York 1995 - Basic Military Training, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri 1997 - Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course, Fort Benning, Georgia 2006 - Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Alabama 2012 - Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Course ASSIGNMENTS June 1995 - June 1997, Division Band Bandsman, 3rd Infantry & 1st Infantry Division, US Army Europe July 1997 - September 2000, MACOM Band Bandsman, US Army Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Georgia January 2001 - December 2010, Regional Band Craftsman, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, Illinois January 2011 - August 2013, Regional Band Craftsman, USAF Band of Flight, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio September - present, Regional Band Craftsman, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, Illinois MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Meritorious Service Medal Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster National Defense Service Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Armed Forces Service Medal EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Staff Sergeant, July 14, 1999 Technical Sergeant, September 1, 2005 Master Sergeant, January 1, 2011