JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON -- Whether performing for audiences in the Philippines, singing alongside Australian forces or bringing joy to children below the Arctic Circle, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Courtney Woods relies on a universal instrument to accomplish her mission: her voice.
Woods serves as a vocalist with the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific-Hawaii, stationed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam where she acts as a musical ambassador, utilizing live performances to foster public trust, honor service members and strengthen strategic relationships with both domestic and international audiences.
In April 2026, she got the opportunity to perform at Eagle River High School in Anchorage for the Month of the Military Child.
“Music makes people happy; music really connects everyone,” said Woods. “It’s the greatest honor in the world to be able to wear this uniform doing what I love the most.”
But long before she wore the uniform, Woods was honing her vocal talents in her home state of Rhode Island. She followed an unconventional path to her musical career, throwing herself into the local arts scene after winning several regional karaoke contests.
Before joining the Air Force in 2017, Woods also co-foundedThe Hot Tickets,a 1940s-inspired musical duo. This was more than just a performance group; it was a mission-driven project in which she and her partner used music as a form of therapy for residents in assisted living facilities, specifically those battling Alzheimer’s and dementia. This early experience in "music as service" directly mirrors her current mission of using music to build cross-cultural bridges and boost morale.
Additionally, she worked as a puppeteer for Rock-a-Baby Rhode Island, a preschool puppet band that introduced preschool children to the fundamentals of music theory.
Woods began her military journey in October 2017 as a vocalist with the Band of the West at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. In 2022, her talents took her to the global stage when she deployed with the U.S. Air Forces Central Band where she performed across three nations in the Middle East, boosting the morale of deployed troops at installations like Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia.
In 2024, Woods relocated to Hawaii, joining the Band of the Pacific where she now supports U.S. Indo-Pacific Command theater priorities as the lead singer for the band’s rock music group, “Small Kine.” Woods frequently travels to connect with local populations.
Recently, the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific-Hawaii worked with Eagle River high school students during their band classes, where service members gave students tips and pointers on how to improve. The band also showed students ways they can have a career in music after high school.
“It’s been really fun to work with the band kids,” Woods said. “I like to think that if we can inspire one kid to either pursue music professionally or maybe pursue a career in the military, then that’s a huge win.”
Whether she sings international rock hits, jazz or traditional patriotic music, Woods’ mission remains the same, to project power through her voice.
As she travels throughout the Indo-Pacific region, her performances continue to bridge cultural gaps, proving a single voice can resonate across any border.