SSgt Benjamin Johnson serves as Drummer/Percussionist for The US Air Forces in Europe Band as of March 2019.
Joining the Air Force in 2011, SSgt Johnson was assigned to The USAF Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, CA, and served as Percussionist and Operations Representative. In 2014, he was assigned to The USAF Band of the Pacific where he serves as Drummer, Unit Training Manager, and Unit Deployment Manager. While assigned to The Band of the Pacific, he was part of the first ever Air Force Band to perform in China, participated in celebrations of the 200th Anniversary of the US/Thailand Alliance, and annually performs for an audience of over 3 million Japanese locals; building ties, creating relationships, and bolstering cross cultural trust between the U.S. and our allies in the Pacific. SSgt Johnson reported to Ramstein Air Base, Germany for his newest assignment, Drummer and Percussionist with The US Air Forces in Europe Band, where he currently performs as drummer for The Ambassadors Jazz Band.
Originally hailing from Laporte, IN, SSgt Johnson pursued a Bachelor of Arts from Ball State University. In addition to his academic pursuits, SSgt Johnson studied with renowned artists Erwin Mueller and Craig Hetrick.
EDUCATION
2014 – Bachelor of General Studies, Ball State University
2017 – Honor Graduate, Airman Leadership School
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2012 – July 2014, Travis Air Force Base, Fairfield, CA
2. July 2014 – March 2019, Yokota Air Base, Tokyo, Japan
3. March 2019 – Present, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal, 1st Oak Leaf
Air Force Commendation Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class January, 13 2012
Senior Airman March 15, 2014
Staff Sergeant January 1, 2017