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Air Force Band welcomes new Commander

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Pagnard
  • The U.S. Air Force Band
Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, D.C. --  Col. Larry H. Lang will become the new commander and conductor of The United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. at an Assumption of Command ceremony on Mar. 6. Born in El Paso, Texas, Lang began his musical career as a trombonist. He attended New Mexico State University in Las Cruces where he earned bachelor's degrees in music education and music performance in 1980. He went on to complete a master's degree in music education at the University of New Hampshire in Durham and was appointed to the faculty there in 1982. He also served for seven years as assistant director of bands at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La.

Lang received his commission through Officer Training School in San Antonio in April 1990. His previous commands include the Air Force Band of the Pacific in Alaska, and the Air Force Heritage of America Band in Virginia. Under his leadership, the Heritage of America Band received four Air Force Organizational Excellence awards. After attending Air Command and Staff College in Alabama, Lang served as the commander of the Air Force Band of Liberty in Massachusetts. He is currently the commander of the U.S. Air Force Academy Band, Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. In 2005, Colonel Lang was inducted into the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. He is also a member of numerous musical associations and is active as a guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States and abroad.

Lt. Col. Ronald Frantz
Lt. Col. Ronald Frantz
The U.S. Air Force Band's current commander, Lt. Col. Ronald Frantz, will be moving back to his previous assignment as the deputy commander of the 11th Operations Group, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. The Band's manager, Chief Master Sgt. Craig LeDoux, lauded Colonel Frantz, "His flying experience translated well with our personnel as fellow operators. In this short time, we grew as an organization under his leadership." Along with the other members of the Band, Chief LeDoux is looking forward to the upcoming assumption of command, saying "We are very excited for the arrival of Colonel Lang. His reputation precedes him as an Airman Musician. A retired Chief formerly under his command contacted me to let me know the high caliber of officer we are getting. The U.S. Air Force Band looks forward to continued excellence under Colonel Lang's leadership."