Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) F. Charles Anderson serves as Senior Enlisted Leader for the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. The band is composed of 61 personnel and 5 flights including operations, publicity, resources, readiness, and administrative support. Additionally, the band maintains 9 performance teams that execute more than 350 missions each year in support of strategic Air Force messaging initiatives, Presidential support, civic outreach, international partnership building, recruiting, and troop support across a 15-state region and at deployed locations around the world. Chief Anderson is the principal advisor to the commander on good order and discipline, health and wellness, readiness, professional development, and training of the unit’s enlisted personnel.
Chief Anderson’s previous assignment was International Enlisted Engagements Manager, US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa. In this role, Chief Anderson worked closely with International Affairs country desk officers to generate enlisted force development strategies and events, assisting partner nation Air Forces in Europe and Africa. He oversaw planning and execution of Senior Enlisted Leader engagements, Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) events, and Building Partnership Capacity (BPC) activities with US Embassies, military staff agencies and operational units.
An accomplished musician and entertainer, Chief Anderson enlisted in 1994 with the Band of the US Air Force Reserve at Robins AFB, GA, and has performed on trombone, vocals, tuba and euphonium for military and civilian audiences worldwide. In 2009, he was transferred to the US Air Forces in Europe Band, where he oversaw planning, support, and execution of more than 400 annual events throughout Europe and Africa, and was responsible for supervision, personnel development, financial planning, and daily activities of 9 performing ensembles and 42 musicians. He has also deployed in operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM.
EDUCATION:
1986 Bachelor of Arts, Duke University, North Carolina
1991 Master of Music Performance (Trombone), University of Maryland
1992 Diploma of Fine Arts (Wind Band Conducting), University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
1993 Bachelor of Education (Music), University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
1999 John L. Levitow Award, Airman Leadership School, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia
2008 John L. Levitow Award, Airey Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida
2010 Associates in Applied Science - Music, Community College of the Air Force
2012 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education
2014 CMSgt Richard Etchberger Team Award, Kisling Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy,
Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Alabama
2016 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2018 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education-II
2018 CMSgt Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Alabama
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Jan 1994 - Mar 1994, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. Mar 1994 - Jun 2009, Trombone, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia
3. Jun 2009 - July 2011, Trombone, Sembach Air Base, Germany
4. July 2011 - Jun 2014, Trombone, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
5. Jun 2014 - Apr 2016, Superintendent, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
6. Apr 2016 - July 2018, International Enlisted Engagements Manager, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
7. Aug 2018 - present, Senior Enlisted Leader, USAF Heritage of America Band, JB Langley-Eustis, Virginia
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with six oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1999, Band of the US Air Force Reserve Bandsman of the Year
2010, US Air Forces in Europe, Public Affairs Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2011, US Air Forces in Europe, Director’s Award for Public Affairs Communications Excellence
2012, US Air Forces in Europe, Public Affairs Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION:
Chief Master Sergeant September 2017
(Current as of 1 October 2022)