Lieutenant Colonel Michael D Hoerber

Lieutenant Colonel Michael D. Hoerber is the Director of Operations for The United States Air Force Band, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. where he plans and oversees more than 1,600 annual missions in the National Capital Region, across the United States and around the world. He recently championed USSOUTHCOM Commander Priorities by leading the first-ever deployment of a Department of Defense music team during RESOLUTE SENTINEL 2024 in Peru. Prior to his arrival in Washington, D.C., Colonel Hoerber served as the Commander, United States Air Force Band of the Pacific, Yokota Air Base, Japan, and its detachment at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii from 2018-2021. While serving in the Pacific, Colonel Hoerber led strategic engagements in support of Pacific Air Forces’ priorities, utilizing the soft power capabilities of music to expand vital relationships, counter adversarial messages and foster trust between an increasingly diverse group of allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific region.

Lieutenant Colonel Hoerber joined the United States Air Force in July 2006. Upon graduation as a Distinguished Graduate from Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, Colonel Hoerber was assigned as Deputy Commander/Assistant Conductor of the USAF Heartland of America Band at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska. He has since served as the Commander/Conductor of four USAF Regional Bands: The USAF Heartland of America Band (2009-2011), the USAF Band of the West at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas (2011-2013), the USAF Heritage of America Band at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia (2013-2018) and [as mentioned above], The USAF Band of the Pacific (2018-2021). The Colonel is currently the only band officer in the Air Force to have deployed three times to the U.S. Central Command region as Officer in Charge of the U.S. Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT) Band in 2011, 2016-17 & 2022. During his most recent deployment, he led all aspects of creating the first-ever bilateral ceremonial band comprised of members of the Qatari Armed Forces Band and the AFCENT Band for the 2022 AFCENT Change of Command.

Colonel Hoerber recently appeared with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops for their 2024 Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular and has guest conducted both the Virginia Symphony and Omaha Symphony orchestras.  

Units under his leadership have been recognized with several Headquarters Air Force level awards to include the Air Force Public Affairs Communication Excellence Award for “Most Innovative Program.” Additionally, Airmen under his leadership have been featured with several nominated and Grammy winning artists to include Joe Bonamassa, Kris Allen, Chris Daughtry, Jimmy Bruno and Harry Connick Jr.

Before joining the Air Force, Lieutenant Colonel Hoerber attended Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, where he studied clarinet with Dr. Robert Spring and instrumental conducting with Dr. Timothy Russell, Dr. Richard Strange, Dr. William Reber and Prof. Gary W. Hill. After completing both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, he became the Music Director of the North Valley Chamber Orchestra. As Director of Bands at Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix, Arizona (2002-2006) he was nationally recognized by the Nobel Foundation as an Outstanding High School Educator for 2006.