
Don Schofield

Colonel Don Schofield is the Commander and Conductor of The United States Air Force Band in
Washington, DC. He is responsible for all activities of this 184-member squadron including equipping,
training and deploying Airmen musicians to perform nearly 1,600 missions each year at locations such as
The White House, Arlington National Cemetery, the Kennedy Center, and venues throughout the world
for the President of the United States, world leaders, and dignitaries. Colonel Schofield also serves on the
faculty at the University of Texas at El Paso, where he teaches graduate conducting courses.
Colonel Schofield was born in Atlanta, Georgia and received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education
from the University of Georgia, his Masters Degree in Music from Louisiana State University, and his
Doctoral degree from Boston University. Prior to receiving his commission at Officer Training School in
1997, Colonel Schofield taught public school in Georgia. His previous commands include the United
States Air Forces in Europe Band in Germany, the United States Air Force Academy Band at the United
States Air Force Academy in Colorado, the Band of the Air Force Reserve at Robins Air Force Base,
Georgia, and the Band of Mid-America at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Colonel Schofield also served as
the Deputy Commander, the 11Operations Group at Joint Base Andrews and the Director of Operations
for The United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. In 2007, he led the United States Air Force
Central Command Band, where he planned and led overseas performances for United States and coalition
forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Africa, Kyrgyzstan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar,
Kuwait, and Bahrain in direct support of combat operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING
FREEDOM.
Colonel Schofield has conducted military bands, professional orchestras, and school honor bands
throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France,
Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Sweden, and Ukraine. Ensembles under his command have performed
internationally with artists such as Joshua Bell, Jullian Bliss, Frank Tichelli, Gavin DeGraw, Andy
Grammer, Dianne Shuur, Kid Rock, Little Big Town, Josh Turner, Lee Ann Womack, Chris Daughtry, the
Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Andy Akiho, John Faddis, Christopher Jackson, Lonestar, Wynonna Judd,
Naomi Judd, Robin Meade, Amy Grant, Take 6, Diamond Rio, the Miracles, Lee Greenwood, Gary
Morris, Brian McKnight, Gordon Goodwin, Allen Vizzutti, Stephen Meade, Aaron Deihl, Samantha
Massell, David Childs, Randy Brecker, Christian McBride, Chris Potter, and Yuri Mynenko. Colonel
Schofield has been recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences as a two-time
Emmy Award Top Four Finalist for his musical leadership during internationally broadcast productions at
the Grand Ole Opry.
Colonel Schofield’s leadership has been recognized by the United States Air Force by being named the
United States Air Forces in Europe’s Public Affairs Communication Excellence Field Grade Officer of the
Year, the United States Air Force Academy’s Public Affairs Field Grade Officer of the Year, the Air Force
Reserve Command’s Public Affairs Field Grade Officer of the Year, Air Mobility Command’s Band
Officer of the Year, and Air Force Materiel Command’s Band Officer of the Year. Under his command, the
United States Air Forces in Europe Band was named the winner of the 2017 Brigadier General Dalton
Award for the best Public Affairs Unit in the United States Air Force. Colonel Schofield’s contributions
resulted in the United States Air Force Band, the United States Air Force Academy Band, and the Band of
Mid-America being awarded the Colonel George S. Howard Citation of Musical Excellence for military
concert bands.