SSgt Alexander V. Valdez is a bassist with the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, CA. He also serves as the unit’s operations representative for The Commanders Jazz Ensemble. Originally from Bloomington, IN, his Air Force career began in 2019.
SrA Valdez is a 2019 graduate of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Bloomington, Indiana, where he earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies - Double Bass. His teachers include Jeremy Allen and Todd Coolman. Other notable mentors include Latin percussionist Michael Spiro, trombonist Wayne Wallace, and saxophonist Walter Smith III. Prior to joining the Air Force, SrA Valdez performed with world renown jazz artists including Jason Palmer, Kurt Elling, Darmon Meader, Sunny Wilkinson, Kate McGarry, John Raymond, and Murray Low.
During his Air Force career, SSgt Valdez has performed with notable artists including jazz clarinetist Felix Peikli and jazz saxophonist Greg Tardy. His prior duty as an operations representative for three other musical performance teams had enabled him to connect the unit and form new partnerships with different organizations in the surrounding local communities and abroad at the civic through federal level. Some Air Force career highlights include providing musical support with Galaxy Combo at the personal request of former 12th Air Force commander Major General Barry Cornish at his retirement ceremony/reception at The Alamo in San Antonio, TX in July 2022, as well as with Latin Ensemble for the CENTAM Conference December 2022 in Tucson, AZ for the current 12th Air Force commander Major General Evan Pettus. In addition, he also performed with Galaxy in August 2022 at the Air Force Sergeants Association International Convention 2022 in Las Vegas, NV.
EDUCATION
2019 – B.M. in Jazz Studies – Double Bass; Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Bloomington, IN
2023 – Professional Military Education; Sgt Paul P. Ramoneda Airman Leadership School, Travis AFB, CA
ASSIGNMENTS
Aug - Oct 2019 – Basic Military Training; 321st Training Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio Lackland, TX
Nov 2019 - Present – Regional Band, Bass; USAF Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, CA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Air Force Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon
Air and Space Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class – Aug 2019
Senior Airman – Dec 2021
Staff Sergeant – Aug 2023
(Current as of March 2023)