Air Guard Top Bandsman Retires

Story & Photo by Maj Herb Porter

Col Delaney (l) and Maj Gen Scoggins (r)

Colonel Michael D. Delaney, former commander of the 560th Air Force Band, Fairchild AFB, Spokane, WA, and Chief of Air National Guard Bands was honored for his distinguished service in a recent retirement ceremony at Camp Murray, WA. Colonel Delaney completed his 30 year military career with the unique distinction of having three titles: Special Assistant to the Director of the Air National Guard, Air National Guard (ANG) Advisor to the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs Band Division, and Chief of ANG Bands.

Throughout his career, Colonel Delaney has logged many miles auditioning Band Commanders and visiting ANG bands annually, personally raising the level of professionalism and musical accomplishment of every ANG band in the country.

Colonel Delaney was born in Spokane, WA and began his service career by enrolling in Eastern Washington University's Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) program in 1966.  Upon graduation he was commissioned as an Army Signal Officer.  He attended Army Signal School and was assigned to the 1st Combat Training Brigade in Fort Polk, LA, as a Basic Training Officer and Company Commander.

As the Vietnam War began to heat up Colonel Delaney was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, first as a Communications Officer, and later as a company Executive Officer and finally Commander of a 'Recon' Company.    Following his tour in Vietnam, Colonel Delaney was assigned to work   communications-intelligence at the division level.

In 1971 Colonel Delaney left active duty, but two years later, joined the U.S. Army Reserve as a Training Officer and Company Commander of the 104th Infantry Division in Spokane, WA.

In 1978, he successfully "auditioned" for the commander job with the 560th Air Force Band, Fairchild AFB, in Spokane.  He remembers that when he took over, there were only 13 people in the band.  There was a budget of about $300.00 which Colonel Delaney used to buy parkas for his Senior NCOs.

In 1987, he became the first ANG band officer to attend the residence course of the Air Command and Staff College, at Maxwell AFB, AL.  Over the years, he spent countless hours and traveled many miles shaping the 560th into one of the premier military bands in the country.

After 22 years of dedicated service, it became clear to those in the higher echelons of leadership that Colonel Delaney’s talents and abilities could have a far more reaching impact at a national level.  It was decided that he would be the person that could promote and foster the importance of military music to the Air Force and inspire the Air National Guard into developing top caliber military bands.  So in 1989 his military experience and musical background presented him with the opportunity to serve as the Chief of Air National Guard Bands.  This position was later expanded with two additional areas of responsibility and leadership as Special Assistant to the Director of the Air National Guard and ANG Advisor to the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs Division.

Following his completion of Air War College in 1997, he became the first Air National Guard band officer promoted to the rank of Colonel.  In addition to numerous military decorations, Colonel Delaney was awarded the Bronze Star, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Vietnam Service Medal.

In his civilian capacity, Colonel Delaney is a teacher for the Spokane Public School District and the Spokane Falls Community College.  In addition, he has a Masters Degree in Education from Seattle University and is a past Distinguished American Bandmaster.  He is married and has three adult children.