Technical Sgt. Anthony O’Connor is an audio engineer with the United States Air Force (USAF) Heritage of America Band. He is a member of the Rhythm in Blue jazz ensemble and the Concert Band, but as engineer, provides support for all ensembles within the Heritage of America Band. Anthony studied Sound Engineering Arts with an emphasis in classical percussion at William Paterson University of New Jersey, as well as Recording Arts at the University of Colorado Denver. He was first inspired to audition for the Air Force bands in 2007, when Chief Master Sergeant (ret.) Edward Teleky, was Anthony’s conductor in the New Jersey All State Wind Ensemble. Prior to Anthony’s joining the Air Force, he was an active live sound and mix engineer in the Colorado Front Range and Denver Metro areas, performing as lead audio system tech for events up to 4,000-person capacity, and has engineered for artists such as Allison Krauss, Andrew MacMahon, Dylon Francis, Jim Gaffigan, Nelly, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Nightsweats, Victor Wooten, and The Pointer Sisters. Anthony entered the audio industry working primarily with remote recording systems in the New York City market under the mentorship of Peter Gary, John Harris, and Jay Vicari; his TV work has included projects with The Colbert Report, VH1’s You Oughta Know series, and PBS: In Performance at the White House.
Education
University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO
William Paterson University of New Jersey, Wayne, New Jersey
Assignments
1. November 2020 – Present, Heritage of America Band, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA
Major Awards and Decorations
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
National Service Defense Medal
Basic Military Training Honor Graduate
Air Force Training Ribbon
Other Achievements
2021 USAF Heritage of America Band Airman of the Quarter, 2nd Quarter 2021
USAF Heritage of America Band Team Excellence, 2nd Quarter
Effective Dates of Promotion
Airman First Class November 6, 2020