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| Ensembles > BandBio |
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| | Senior Master Sergeant Joseph Leblanc | |
Senior Master Sergeant LeBlanc is the Superintendent of the Air National Guard Band of the Gulf Coast. He is a native of New Orleans, LA and has served in the Air National Guard since 1986. His degrees include a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Louisiana Tech University in 1977 and a Masters Degree in Music Education from Mississippi State University in 1981, and a Plus-30 in School Administration and Supervision from Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport, LA.
Senior Master Sergeant LeBlanc spent 17 years with the Louisiana Army National Guard Band in Bossier City, LA. He performed with the 156th Army Band as a French Hornist, a Trombonist and as a keyboard player. In addition to his responsibilities as an instrumentalist he served as the NCOIC of the Jazz Band and Jazz Combo and as the enlisted conductor for the Band. He completed his Army Basic Training at Fort McClelland, Anniston, AL in 1986. He transferred to the 531st Air Force Band in 2004 after receiving an honorable discharge from the US Army.
Senior Master Sergeant LeBlanc is a graduate of the Air Force Senior Non Commissioned Officer Academy. As a member of the 531st Air Force Band, he has served as the Unit Security Manager, the NCOIC of the Concert Band, the Unit Anti-Terrorism Officer, and the Unit OPSEC Manager as well as the Director of Operations. He is versatile instrumentalist and music arranger having performed on several instruments and provided several arrangements for the Ceremonial Brass Quintet and Marching Band.
In 2011 he deployed with the pop Latin Band "Blue Hawk," from the Texas ANG, to Qatar, Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Kyrgyzstan. His military awards include the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border, the Louisiana Emergency Service Medal as well as numerous other Louisiana and Texas State medals.
Senior Master Sergeant LeBlanc is a traditional reservist and "citizen airman." He has been teaching in both public and private schools since 1977. He is currently the Director of Bands and Performing and Visual Arts Department Chair for Caddo Parish Magnet High School in Shreveport, LA. In addition to his teaching responsibilities he is an active member of the Louisiana Music Educators Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Phi Beta Mu, and Phi Mu Alpha, past President of the District VIII Band Directors Association as well as the past Vice President of the Louisiana Association of Jazz Educators (LAJE). Currently he is serving as the LMEA State Orchestra Division Chair. He performs regularly as a freelance musician in the Ark-La-Tex and is a member of his local church's orchestra.
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