Lt Col Cristina M. Moore Urrutia is the Commander at USAF Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, California. The 60-member unit, composed of ten musical ensembles, performs more than 350 missions annually throughout a five-state area of responsibility as an ambassador of the Air Force and Air Mobility Command. The unit’s mission is to honor our nation and its military, inspire patriotism while invigorating the resiliency of Airmen and their families, and connect with both the American public and vital regional and national partners to build trust and advocate for our nation’s strategic defense priorities.
She began her military career as an enlisted member of the United States Army in 1992, serving as Principal Horn and Associate Conductor of the 43rd Army Band of the Nebraska National Guard. She then joined the United States Air Force, receiving her commission as a Distinguished Graduate of Officer Training School in April 2001, and was assigned to the United States Air Force Band of Liberty, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. Prior to her current position she was the Commander of the United States Air Forces in Europe Band, Ramstein Air Base, Germany which fortified relationships and expanded partnerships across Europe and Africa.
Lt Col Moore Urrutia has served multiple command tours, leading musical ensembles before US Presidents, foreign Heads of State, and many other senior military and civilian leaders at such prestigious locations as the White House and Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan, and Maidan Square in Kyiv, Ukraine. She directed the US musical support for the 100th Anniversary of Armistice Day, the 70th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, and multiple events across Europe for the 75th Anniversary of the end of World War II. Lt Col Moore Urrutia has deployed to Central and South America on the USNS Comfort as part of Operation CONTINUING PROMISE, aided humanitarian efforts for Afghan evacuees during Operation ALLIES REFUGE, and has leveraged engagement opportunities throughout Africa and Asia, using music to bridge cultures and further US strategic partnership building objectives across six continents. Additionally, she conducted the Singing Sergeants at Ford's Theater in the nationally televised "An American Celebration: A Salute to Our Troops,” was the guest emcee for the PBS special "Salute to Veterans 2011," and has appeared as a guest conductor and clinician for multiple military and civilian bands and orchestras worldwide. Units under her command have received multiple awards, to include the Colonel George S. Howard Citation for Musical Excellence, the Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award, the Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award, and the Public Affairs Communication Excellence Award for Best Communication Integration.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Music, Horn Performance, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Neb.
1998 Master of Music, Orchestral Conducting, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Neb.
2001 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2015 Master of Arts, Military and Operational Science, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
- November 1992 – December 2000, Principal Horn /Associate Conductor, 43rd Army Band of Nebraska National Guard, Lincoln, Neb.
- January 2001 – April 2001, Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
- April 2001 – June 2004, Deputy Commander, United States Air Force Band of Liberty, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
- June 2001 – September 2007, Flight Commander, The USAF Band, Bolling AFB, D.C.
- September 2007 – August 2011, Commander, USAF Band of the West, Lackland AFB, Tex. (March 2009 – August 2009, Commander, Air Force Personnel, OPERATION Continuing Promise 2009, Unites States Naval Ship COMFORT, Central and South America)
- August 2011 – July 2014, Commander, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, Ill.
- July 2014 – July 2015, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- July 2015 – Aug 2018, Commander USAF Band of the Pacific, Yokota Air Base, Japan
- Nov 2018 – July 2022, Commander US Air Forces in Europe Band, Ramstein AB, Germany
- August 2022 – Present, Commander USAF Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, CA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Navy Achievement Medal
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with bronze star
Humanitarian Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2001 Distinguished Graduate, Officer Training School
2006 Top Third Graduate, Squadron Officer School
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Private First Class November, 1992
Specialist October, 1993
Second Lieutenant April 5, 2001
First Lieutenant April 5, 2003
Captain April 5, 2005
Major December 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 2016
(Current as of September 2024)