Lieutenant Colonel Joseph S. Hansen is the Commander of The United States Air Force Band of the Pacific, Yokota Air Base, Japan, and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, where he leads 40 members in missions across the Indo-Pacific’s 36-nation Area of Responsibility.
In previous assignments, Lt Col Hansen served as an Air University Fellow at Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. As part of his fellowship, he served as a Deputy Course Director and Instructor in the Department of Leadership for the 500-member student body. Lt Col Hansen also served four years as the Commander and Conductor of the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West at Travis Air Force Base, California, a 60-member musical unit comprised of eight different performing groups covering a five-state area of responsibility serving Air Mobility Command.
Lt Col Hansen has also served at the Pentagon as an Opinion Leader and Engagement Action Officer for the Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs. He was the think tank engagement advisor and liaison to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and other senior Pentagon and Major Command leaders and was responsible for developing and implementing public support and understanding of Air Force roles and missions. Lt Col Hansen also served as Assistant Director of Operations and Flight Commander for the United States Air Force Band, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. He led engagements and ceremonies at the White House, Arlington National Cemetery, and other notable locations while serving as Officer in Charge of the Concert Band, Singing Sergeants, Air Force Strings, and Max Impact.
Lt Col Hansen has deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom (2014) and Inherent Resolve and Freedom’s Sentinel (2018) to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, serving as the U.S. Air Forces Central Command Band Officer in Charge. Through his leadership, deployed bands traveled to Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt, and 10 other countries, performing for 50,000 military and local audience members on over 250 missions.
Lt Col Hansen began his Air Force career in 2009 as Deputy Commander and Associate Conductor of the United States Air Force Band of the West at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. In 2011, he planned and directed the band’s first combined concert with the San Antonio Symphony. Lt Col Hansen has authored articles in School Band and Orchestra Magazine and the International Trombone Association Journal and is currently co-researching music engagement and the information environment in the Philippines.
EDUCATION
2006 Bachelor of Music with Honors, K-12 Music Education, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2009 Master of Music, Southern Oregon University, Ashland, Ore.
2009 Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2010 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Public Affairs Officer Qualification Course, Defense Information School, Fort Meade, Md.
2015 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Doctor of Musical Arts, Boston University, Boston, Mass.
2023 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
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October 2009 – February 2014, Deputy Commander, United States Air Force Band of the West, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas
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September 2014 – August 2015, Flight Commander, United States Air Force Band, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
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August 2015 – July 2016, Assistant Director of Operations, United States Air Force Band, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
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July 2016 – January 2018, Team Lead, Opinion Leader Engagement, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
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September 2018 – June 2022, Commander, United States Air Force Band of the Golden West, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.
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July 2022 – May 2023, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
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May 2023 – June 2024, Air University Fellow, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
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July 2024 – Present, Commander, United States Air Force Band of the Pacific, Yokota Air Base, Japan
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
PUBLICATIONS
“Alto Trombone Pedagogical Materials,” International Trombone Association Journal, Winter 2007
“Having Finished the First Year,” School Band and Orchestra Magazine, January 2008
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, October 27, 2009
First Lieutenant, October 27, 2011
Captain, October 27, 2013
Major, August 1, 2019
Lieutenant Colonel, April 1, 2024
(Current as of May 2025)