band change of command

Col. Elizabeth Borelli, commander of the 11th Operations Group, accepts the United States Air Force Band guidon from Col. Dennis M. Layendecker during a change of command ceremony in Hangar 2 on Bolling Air Force Base, June 30. The ceremony marked Colonel Layendecker’s final day as commander of the U.S. Air Force Band. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sean Adams)

band change of command

Lt. Col. Alan C. Sierichs, commander of the United States Air Force Band, accepts the United States Air Force Band guidon from Col Elizabeth Borelli, commander of the 11th Operations Group, during a change of command ceremony in Hangar 2 on Bolling Air Force Base, June 30. The ceremony marked Colonel Layendecker’s final day as commander of the U.S. Air Force Band. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sean Adams)

band change of command

Lt. Col. Alan Sierichs, commander of the United States Air Force Band, and Col. Dennis Layendecker, adjust each other’s command during a change of command ceremony in Hangar 2 on Bolling Air Force Base, June 30. The ceremony marked Colonel Layendecker’s final day as commander of the U.S. Air Force Band. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sean Adams)

Band commander passes the baton

Published June 30, 2009
By Airman 1st Class Katherine Windish
11th Wing Public Affairs

BOLLING AFB, D.C. -- The men and women of the United States Air Force Band welcomed their new commander during a change-of-command ceremony June 29 in Hangar 2 on Bolling Air Force Base, D.C.

Lt. Col. Alan C. Sierichs takes the reins from Col. Dennis M. Layendecker, who relinquished command after seven years.

"The Air Force Band is a very special place," said Colonel Sierichs. "I'm humbled and exalted to follow in the lineage of great band leaders like Col. George Howard, Col. Arnald Gabriel, Col. Lowell Graham and Col. Dennis Layendecker,"

The Baton Rouge, La., native enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1981 and received his commission in 1985. He has earned a bachelor of arts degree in music education from Louisiana State University and a master of arts degree in musical performance from Boston University.

Some of the colonel's previous assignments include tours with the Strategic Air Command Band at Offutt AFB, Neb.; the U.S. Air Force Academy Band in Colorado Springs, Colo.; the Air Force Band of the Midwest at Chanute AFB, Ill.; the Air Force Band of the Pacific at Yokota Air Base, Japan; and the Air Force Band of Liberty, at Hanscom AFB, Mass.

Throughout Colonel Sierich's career he has designed and performed shows for such high-ranking officials as the president and vice president of the United States, the secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force chief of staff, among others.

Colonel Layendecker will be retiring this September and has accepted a full professorship with tenure at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. There he will hold the Heritage Chair in Music as director of orchestras.

"I am certain he will do a magnificent job here!" said Colonel Layendecker. "Alan, as you have served us so brilliantly as our deputy commander this past year, you know you are taking command of one of the very finest military musical outfits in the world. Given your substantial and successful record, you clearly merit it."