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 thirty-six 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 (AFB), 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 USAF Band of the Golden West at Travis AFB, 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 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 served also as Assistant Director of Operations and Flight Commander for the United States Air Force Band, Joint Base (JB) Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, DC. 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 (AB), Qatar and twice served as the US Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT) 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 USAF Band of the West at JB 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 about music engagement and the information environment in the Philippines.
EDUCATION
2006 Bachelors of Music with Honors, K-12 Music Education, Brigham Young University, Salt Lake City, Utah.
2009 Master of Music, Southern Oregon University, Ashland, Ore.
2009 Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Public Affairs Officer Qualification Course, Defense Information School, Ft 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, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 2009 – February 2014, Deputy Commander, USAF Band of the West, JB San Antonio, Texas
2. February 2014 – August 2014, Officer in Charge, AFCENT Band, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
3. September 2014 – August 2015, Flight Commander, USAF Band, JB Anacostia-Bolling, DC
4. August 2015 – July 2016, Assistant Director of Operations, USAF Band, JB Anacostia-Bolling, DC
5. July 2016 – January 2018, Team Lead, Opinion Leader Engagement, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs, Pentagon, DC
6. January 2018 – August 2018, Officer in Charge, AFCENT Band, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
7. September 2018 – Jun 2022, Commander, USAF Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, Calif.
8. July 2022 – May 2023, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. May 2023 – Jun 2024, Air University Fellow, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. Jul 2024 – Present, Commander, USAF Band of the Pacific, Yokota AB, Japan
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Force 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 1 April 1, 2024
(Current as of July 2024)