Senior Airman Brian R. Ellerman is a drummer with the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific-Asia, Yokota Air Base, Japan. In addition to his musical responsibilities, he serves as Operations Representative for the rock band Final Approach.
Originally from West Chester, Ohio, Airman Ellerman entered the Air Force in 2021 and was assigned to the Band of Mid-America at Scott AFB, Illinois. While there, he performed with the jazz ensemble Shades of Blue, the brass quintet Airlifter Brass, and the rock band Starlifter. He also deployed with the AFCENT Band in support of theater-wide missions.
Before his enlistment, Airman Ellerman worked as a freelance musician in Columbus, Ohio, and toured with several artists, most notably The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra. He holds a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from Wright State University and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from The Ohio State University. He has studied with Jim Rupp, Jerry Noble, and Steve Lyman.
EDUCATION
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2016 Bachelor of Music, Jazz Studies, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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2020 Master of Music, Percussion Performance, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio
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2021 Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
ASSIGNMENTS
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Oct 2021 – Nov 2021, Trainee, BMT, Lackland AFB, Texas
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Dec 2021 – Jan 2023, Percussionist, Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, Ill.
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(Mar – Jul 2023, Drummer, AFCENT Band, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
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Jan 2023 – Present, Drummer, Band of the Pacific-Asia, Yokota AB, Japan
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
(Current as of May 2025)