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Master Sergeant Doug Kost

MSgt Douglas S. Kost is Section Chief, Operations at Band of Mid America, Scott AFB, Illinois. In this capacity, he serves as a Regional Band trombone player and leads an 18-member section to schedule performances throughout the units 10-state area of responsibility.  He attended Youngstown State University pursuing a degree in Music Education. After graduation in 2002, he toured the country professionally with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.  Master Sergeant Kost then went on to attend the University of North Texas in pursuit of a Master’s degree in Music Performance. He subsequently enlisted in the Air Force in 2005 and arrived at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas in September 2005 for basic military training. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the Band of Flight, stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, and completed his Master’s degree in 2006. While assigned to the Band of Flight, he deployed in support of Operation Continuing Promise, delivering humanitarian assistance to parts of Central and South America. His next assignment came in 2012 when he was stationed at Scott Air Force Band, joining the Band of Mid-America, Illinois. In 2015, he volunteered and was accepted as a Military Training Instructor at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. During his five-year tenure as a Military Training Instructor, Master Sergeant Kost led the Drum & Bugle Corps and performed for over 200 basic military training graduations. In May 2020, he was assigned to the Band of the West at Lackland Air Force Base, and in 2022 he accepted another special duty position as the Superintendent of the Base Honor Guard at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Air Force Base. For his dedication to the program and developing Airmen, he was named the Program Manager of the Year for the Air Education and Training Command. His current position as the Director of Operations for the USAF Band of Mid-America began in June 2024.

EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Music Education, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio
2006 Masters of Music Performance in Trombone, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
2009 Airman Leadership School, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (AFB), Dayton, Ohio
2011 Associate Degree, Fine and Applied Art-Music, Community College of the Air Force
2016 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, JBSA-Lackland (AFB), San Antonio, Texas
2018 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2022 USAF Honor Guard Protocol, Honors, and Ceremonies Course, Bolling AFB, Washington D.C.

ASSIGNMENTS

  1. September 2005 – October 2005, Basic Military Training, JBSA-Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Texas
  2. October 2005 – September 2012, USAF Band of Flight, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
  3. October 2012 – June 2015, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, Illinois
  4. July 2015 – April 2020, Military Training Instructor, Basic Military Training, JBSA-Lackland AFB, Texas
  5. May 2020 – May 2022, USAF Band of the West, JBSA-Lackland AFB, Texas
  6. April 2022 – June 2024, Base Honor Guard Superintendent, JBSA-Lackland AFB, Texas
  7. June 2024 – Present, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, Illinois

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with four oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Air Force Special Duty Ribbon

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2020 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, USAF Band of the West
2021 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the 4th Quarter, USAF Band of the West
2022 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the 4th Quarter, 502d Force Support Group
2023 Air Education and Training Command Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year
2024 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the 1st Quarter, 802d Force Support Squadron

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class Sept 6, 2005
Senior Airman Jan 6, 2008
Staff Sergeant Aug 1, 2009
Technical Sergeant Feb 1, 2015
Master Sergeant May 1, 2018

(Current as of September 2024)