Senior Airman Taylor B. Keown is a Regional Band member assigned to the Band of the West as a Drummer/Percussionist, GPC Holder, and Uniform Custodian at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. SrA Keown was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 11 November 1991. He attended the University of Utah for his Bachelor’s degree, where he majored in Music Performance. Between his freshman and sophomore year, he decided to fulfill a two-year service mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (more commonly known as “The Mormon Church”) and was assigned to the Ukraine Donetsk Mission, located in Eastern Ukraine. He lived in multiple cities throughout the Donetsk Oblast and learned to love the Ukrainian people and their culture. After completing his missionary service, he resumed studies and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2016. Upon graduation, he accepted a Graduate Teaching Assistantship at Texas Christian University and moved to Texas to pursue his Master’s degree in Music Performance, which he earned in 2018.
Prior to joining the Air Force, Senior Airman Keown worked as the Percussion Specialist at Jasper High School in Plano, Texas, where he instructed the drum line, methods class, percussion ensembles, assisted the Plano West Senior High percussion program, and maintained a large private studio in Plano ISD. Following a successful audition with the US Air Force Band of the West, he enlisted in the Air Force in 2019 and arrived at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in September 2019 for Basic Military Training. After graduation, he was assigned to the US Air Force Band of the West.
During his time in the Band of the West thus far, he has completed numerous missions with a variety of musical performance teams including Dimensions in Blue, Warhawk, Ceremonial Marching Band, Concert Band, and Top Flight. His military awards include Basic Military Training Honor Graduate, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.
In his free time, he enjoys watching basketball and exploring San Antonio with his wife, Allison, and dog, Sadie.
EDUCATION:
2016: Bachelor of Music in Music Performance, Magna Cum Laude, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
2018: Master of Music in Music Performance, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas
2019: Honor Graduate, Basic Military Training, JBSA Lackland, Texas
ASSIGNMENTS:
September 2019 – November 2019, JBSA Lackland, Basic Military Training
November 2019 – Present, USAF Band of the West, JBSA Lackland, Texas
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Basic Military Training Honor Graduate
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION:
Airman First Class – 08 November 2019
Updated 11 August, 2021