TSgt Joanne Griffin is a regional band vocalist at the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific, Yokota Air Base, Japan. In addition to her musical duties, Sergeant Griffin serves as the Assistant Director of Operations for this unit.
Sergeant Griffin joined the Air Force on September 27, 2011 and immediately following her graduation from Basic Training, started working with the rock band, Starlifter at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. She then joined the rock group, Pacific Trends, stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan from 2014 – 2018. Her next assignment was with the USAF Band of Flight at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base until she was stationed back at Yokota Air Base in December 2020, where she is now a proud member of the jazz ensemble, Pacific Showcase.
Sergeant Griffin, a native of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, has been performing professionally for over 23 years. During this time, she has performed at Coney Island in Cincinnati, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN, traveled to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico where she was a part of the entertainment team at the Royal Solaris Hotel and worked several years at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay as a singer. She has enjoyed singing with several bands and duos in Florida and St. Louis, MO. She was also a production singer aboard the Carnival Imagination where she toured the Western Caribbean for seven months.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Fine Arts Musical Theatre Degree, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, Ky.
2016 Airman Leadership School, Yokota Air Base, Japan
2018 Master of Arts, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, Illinois
2021 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kadena Air Base, Japan
ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 2011 – July 2014, Region Band Vocalist, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
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, Ohio
4. December 2020 – Present, Regional Band Vocalist, USAF Band of the Pacific, Yokota AB, Japan
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Long
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with gold star
Air Force Training Ribbon
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
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
(Current as of October 2021)