Senior Master Sergeant Gregory C. Pflugh serves as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific-Asia at Yokota Air Base, Japan. He is the principal advisor to the Commander on good order and discipline, health and wellness, readiness, and professional development of the unit’s enlisted personnel. His oversight of administrative and musical functions supports the mission, vision, and priorities of an organization that provides strategic musical engagement in support of the Department of Defense and Air Force strategic communication initiatives, Presidential support, civic outreach, international partnership building, recruiting, and troop support across the US Indo-Pacific command locations.
Sergeant Pflugh entered the Air Force in May 2009 following a career as a touring musician. He has performed in multiple musical and administrative leadership roles within numerous Air Force Regional Band units. Sergeant Pflugh has deployed twice with the Air Forces Central Band in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, ENDURING SENTINEL, INHERENT RESOLVE, and ALLIES WELCOME promoting morale, diplomacy, and outreach to coalition partners and embassies throughout the United States Central Command area of responsibility.
Sergeant Pflugh also served in a Developmental Duty as a Professional Military Education Instructor, where he accumulated more than 4,000 instructor hours while preparing over 750 students to become Noncommissioned Officers during 27 Airman Leadership School classes taught at Yokota Air Base, Japan and Osan Air Base, Korea. His leadership was crucial to Yokota Airman Leadership School’s 2019 “Best in Air Force” award recognition. Prior to his current position, Sergeant Pflugh served as the Section Chief of Operations for the United States Air Force Band of Flight at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
EDUCATION
2006 Bachelor of Music Degree, Saxophone Performance, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio
2014 Airman Leadership School, Yokota Air Base, Japan
2015 Associate Degree, Music, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2016 Enlisted Professional Military Education Instructor Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, by correspondence
2017 Associate Degree, Instructor of Military Science and Technology, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Air Education and Training Command Basic Instructor Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2019 Additional Duty First Sergeant Symposium, Yokota AB, Japan
2020 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kadena AB, Japan
2021 Resiliency Trainer Course, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2021 Certified Project Officer, Institute for Project Management
2021 Continuous Process Improvement Green Belt Certification
2023 Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
2023 Air University Senior Noncommissioned Officer Foundations Course, in residence
2024 Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II, by correspondence
2025 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2009 – May 2012, Regional Bandsman, USAF Heartland of America Band, Offutt AFB, Neb.
2. May 2012 – April 2016, Regional Bandsman, USAF Band of the Pacific-Asia, Yokota AB, Japan
3. April 2016 – September 2020, Professional Military Education Instructor, 374th Force Support Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan
4. September 2020 – August 2025, Regional Bandsman, USAF Band of Flight, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
5. August 2025 – Present, Senior Enlisted Leader, USAF Band of the Pacific-Asia, Yokota AB, Japan
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with four bronze oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award
US Department of State Meritorious Honor Award
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Recognition Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal with bronze service star
Korea Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Air and Space Overseas Long Tour Ribbon with bronze oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border and bronze oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Longevity Service Ribbon with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Developmental Special Duty Ribbon
USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon with bronze oak leaf cluster
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Five-time squadron Airman of the Quarter, Three-time Directorate Airman of the Quarter
Four-time squadron, Two-time Directorate/Group Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter
Two-time squadron Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter
2010 Headquarters Air Combat Command/Public Affairs Airman of the Year
2011 Colonel Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award
2011 Senior Airman Below-the-Zone
2014 Headquarters Pacific Air Forces/Public Affairs Airman of the Year
2014 John L. Levitow Award, Airman Leadership School Class 15-A, Yokota AB, Japan
2015 Secretary of the Air Force/Public Affairs Musician of the Year
2018 PACAF/A1 Special Duty Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2018 Outstanding Total Force Enlisted Professional Military Education Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Wing Winner
2018 Best Presenter Award, AETC Basic Instructor Course, Class 181105B, Keesler AFB, Mississippi
2019 Thomas N. Barnes Enlisted Education Award, 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota AB, Japan
2019 Outstanding Airman Leadership School of the Year Award, Best in Air Force
2020 Distinguished Graduate and Academic Achievement Award, NCOA Class 20-3, Kadena AB, Japan
2020 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award, 374th Airlift Wing, Junior Enlisted Category
2020 Air Force Band of Flight Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2021 88th Air Base Wing Noncommissioned Officer of the First Quarter, Wright Patterson AFB, OH
2021 Arthur S. Flemming Leadership Award, 88th Air Base Wing
2021 88th Air Base Wing Staff Agencies Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2022 Band of Flight Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2022 Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs Communication Excellence Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2023 Air Force Band of Flight Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2024 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award, 88th Air Base Wing Staff Agencies, Senior Enlisted Category
2024 Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs Communication Excellence Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2024 Air Force Band of Flight Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic May 26, 2009
Airman First Class July 24, 2009
Senior Airman March 26, 2011
Staff Sergeant Oct. 1, 2014
Technical Sergeant Jan. 1, 2019
Master Sergeant May 1, 2022
Senior Master Sergeant Feb. 1, 2026
(Current as of February 2026)