Captain Brian M. O’Donnell is the Commander and Conductor of the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West, located at Travis Air Force Base, California. The 60-member unit, comprised of ten musical ensembles, performs more than 350 missions as ambassadors of the United States 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.
Captain O’Donnell entered the Air Force in 2018. He has since held the position of Operations Officer and conductor of the United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa Band, Flight Commander and conductor of the United States Air Force Academy Band in Colorado Springs, CO, and has completed two deployments to U.S. Central Command as the Officer in Charge of the Air Forces Central Band, located at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
Prior to joining the Air Force, Captain O’Donnell earned his Bachelor of Music in French Horn Performance and Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition from University of California Santa Barbara, where he studied horn with Dr. Stephen Gross, and music composition with Dr. Leslie Hogan and Dr. Jeremy Haladyna. He then earned his Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from California State University Sacramento with Leo Eylar. Concurrent with his studies in Sacramento, he worked as a freelance conductor and French horn player throughout Northern California, conducting and performing with ensembles of the professional, university, and community levels.
Captain O’Donnell received his commission in March of 2018 from Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.
EDUCATION
2014 Bachelor of Music - French Horn Performance, University of California Santa Barbara
2014 Bachelor of Arts - Music Composition, University of California Santa Barbara
2017 Master of Music - Orchestral Conducting, California State University Sacramento
2018 Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2019 Public Affairs Qualifying Course, Defense Information School, Ft Meade, MD
2024 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL (January 2018 - March 2018)
2. Flight Commander, USAF Academy Band, Peterson AFB, Colorado (March 2018 - August 2021)
(Officer in Charge, Air Forces Central Band, Al Udeid AB, Qatar (September 2020 - April 2021))
3. Operations Officer, USAFE-AFAFRICA Band, Ramstein AB, Germany (August 2021 - July 2025)
(Officer in Charge, Air Forces Central Band, Al Udeid AB, Qatar (March 2023 - October 2023))
4. Commander, Band of the Golden West, Travis AB, California (August 2025 – Present)
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster
Air and Space Force Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and One Oak Leaf Cluster
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with Service Star
Squadron Officer School Hinman Academic Award
Squadron Officer School Distinguished Graduate
Squadron Officer School Outstanding Contributor
2024 Public Affairs Captain Bradley R. Schuldt Outstanding Communication CGO for USAFE-AFAFRICA
2024 Public Affairs Dalton Outstanding Communication Unit for USAFE-AFAFRICA
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2024 Hinman Academic Award, Squadron Officer School
2024 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School
2024 Outstanding Contributor, Squadron Officer School
2024 Public Affairs Captain Bradley R. Schuldt Outstanding Communication CGO for USAFE-AFAFRICA
2024 Public Affairs Dalton Outstanding Communication Unit for USAFE-AFAFRICA
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant 09 March 2018
First Lieutenant 09 March 2020
Captain 09 March 2022
(Current as of August 2025)