Colonel Thomas H. Palmatier
Colonel Thomas H. Palmatier was appointed Leader and Commander of The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" in August 2011. He previously served as Commander and Conductor of The U.S. Army Field Band, the first officer to command both of the Army's top premier bands. He has also served as Commandant of the U.S. Army School of Music, responsible for the training of Army Band Soldiers, Noncommissioned Officers, Warrant Officers, and Commissioned Officers for the Army's 106 bands worldwide. His previous assignments include Commander of the U.S. Army Europe Band and Chorus, Executive Officer to The Adjutant General of the Army, and the Department of the Army Staff Bands Officer, overseeing band activities for all Active, Reserve, and National Guard bands. Earlier assignments included command and staff positions around the world, to include service as an Associate Bandmaster with The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own."
Colonel Palmatier holds a Bachelor of Music degree, magna cum laude, in Applied Music from the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, New York, and received their Minerva Award in 2010, presented annually to an alumnus who has demonstrated outstanding lifetime professional achievement. He also earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Music from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, and a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the U.S. Army War College and is currently enrolled in doctoral studies at Boston University. A member of the Army War College Association, he also belongs to the Adjutant General Corps Regimental Association.
Colonel Palmatier is former Director of the Rochester International Tattoo and former Principal Director of Music for the Virginia International Tattoo. He was also Music Director of the Dominion Brass Band, which won the Honors Section of the North American championships in 1996. His professional affiliations include the prestigious American Bandmasters Association, the North American Brass Band Association, of which he is Past-President, and the National Band Association.
Colonel Palmatier has received numerous military honors to include two awards of the Legion of Merit and seven awards of the Meritorious Service Medal. He was the first Army Band Officer to earn both the Parachutist and Air Assault Badges and also earned the right to wear a combat patch for service in El Salvador.