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 Major Keith H. Bland, Commander
US Air Force Band of the Golden West
Major Keith H. Bland is the Commander,
US Air Force Band of the Golden West, Travis Air Force Base, California. Major Bland's career in the Air Force began in 1996.
Upon completion of Officer Training School
and receiving his commission, Major Bland became the deputy commander and conductor of the United States Air Force Heartland of America Band located at Offutt
Air Force Base, Nebraska. In July of 1998, he became the commander and conductor of that same organization. In 1999 he was assigned to the United States Air Force Band,
located at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington D.C., where he served as flight commander and conductor of the United States Air Force Strings. In January of
2001, he was assigned to the Commander of the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific-Asia, stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan. From June 2003 through
July 2006, Maj Bland served as Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies and Commandant of Cadets in the AFROTC program at his alma mater, the
University of Kansas, after which he served as Operations Officer, US Air Force Band, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. He was assigned as
Commander of the Band of the Golden West in the summer of 2008. Units under Major Bland's command have performed for the President, Vice
President, Secretary of State, and U.S. Ambassadors to Japan and Korea.
Major Bland holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree with Highest
Distinction from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., and a Master of Music degree in conducting from University of Missouri at Kansas City. His
teachers included Gary Hill, Scott Watson, and James Morrison. He completed Squadron Officer School in residence and won the McClary TEAM Award.
Prior to entering the Air Force, he taught instrumental music in both the Shawnee Mission and Blue Valley School Districts in Kansas. He also served as
Adjunct Instructor of Low Brass at Mid America Nazarene University and Assistance Conductor of Kansas City Civic Orchestra.
Major Bland's military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Achievement
Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
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