MSgt Joanne R. Griffin is a Regional Band Vocalist with the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. MSgt Griffin has served in various leadership roles including First Sergeant, Section Chief of the Commander’s Support Staff, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of Publicity, and Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of a Music Performance Team.
In 2016, Sergeant Griffin deployed as lead vocalist in support of the U.S. Air Forces Central (AFCENT) Band. In that role, she leveraged the power of music to improve the morale and resiliency of U.S. and coalition troops while promoting diplomatic and engagement missions across several nations. In 2022, she deployed in support of Operations INHERENT RESOLVE and SPARTAN SHIELD as the Installation Victim Advocate for the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office at Al Udeid, Air Base, Qatar, providing outstanding leadership for AFCENT’s largest Crisis Response Team.
Sergeant Griffin, a native of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, has performed professionally since 1997 at Coney Island in Cincinnati, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico at the Royal Solaris Hotel, and featured vocalist at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Additionally, she performed regionally in Florida and St. Louis, MO, as well as aboard the Carnival Imagination which toured the Western Caribbean.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Fine Arts Theatre Arts Degree, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY
2016 Airman Leadership School, Yokota Air Base, Japan
2016 Associate in Applied Science, Music, Community College of the Air Force
2018 Master of Arts, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, IL
2021 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kadena Air Base, Japan
2022 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I Course, National Defense University, Norfolk, VA
ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 2011 – July 2014, Regional Band Vocalist, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott Air Force Base, IL
2. July 2014 – July 2018, Regional Band Vocalist, USAF Band of the Pacific, Yokota AB, Japan (October 2016 – February 2017, Regional Band Vocalist, AFCENT Band, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
3. July 2018 – December 2020, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of Publicity, USAF Band of Flight, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
4. December 2020 – January 2025, Additional Duty First Sergeant, USAF Band of the Pacific, Yokota AB, Japan (April – October 2022, Installation Victim Advocate, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
5. January 2025 - present, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, IL
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with gold star
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2019 USAF Band of Flight’s Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
2016 – 2023 Volunteer Victim Advocate, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class November 25, 2011
Senior Airman January 27, 2014
Staff Sergeant April 1, 2016
Technical Sergeant February 1, 2020
Master Sergeant February 1, 2024
(Current as of January 2025)