Master Sergeant Richard F Fitz Master Sergeant Richard Fitz is the First Sergeant and percussionist/keyboardist for the Air National Guard Band of the Northeast. Born in Radford, Virginia, his Air Force career began in 1985. Sergeant Fitz graduated from Garden Spot High School in New Holland, Pennsylvania. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education and a Masters Degree in Music Performance, both from West Chester University, West Chester, Pennsylvania. He has been percussion soloist with the USAF Band of the East, the USAF Heritage of America Band, the Air National Guard Band of the Northeast, and at the Pennsylvania Music Educator's Conference. He also plays keyboards with High Altitude and The Guardsmen combo. MSgt Fitz currently resides in New Holland, Pennsylvania. In his civilian career, he serves as High School Band Director at his alma mater, Garden Spot High School. He is active in the Masons and with his church, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. MSgt Fitz enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1985, joining the Air Force Band of the East at McGuire AFB, New Jersey. He was also a member of the Heritage of America Band, Langley AFB, Virginia. He transferred to the Air National Guard, and became a member of the Air National Guard Band of the Northeast. During the summer of 2010, he deployed to the Middle East with High Altitude and performed for hundreds of coalition forces in support of OIF and OEF. He is a graduate of the Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Correspondence course, and has completed the Senior Noncommissioned Officer Correspondence Course. Sergeant Fitz's awards and decorations include the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Outstanding Unit award, and the National Defense Service Medal. He was named Noncommissioned Officer of the Year at McGuire AFB.