Where Are They Now?
Each year the band takes great pride in preparing a tribute to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces as part of the UW Athletic Department’s annual “Salute to Service.” As director, I have been deeply touched by the emails from alumni and former military personnel thanking us for this special tribute and all the work that goes into preparing the show. That’s why I decided to catch our readers up on a few of our alumni who served in the armed forces. I’m certain there are many former HMB members who have served that I am not aware of. Nevertheless, we salute each and every one of you and thank you for your selfless service to our country.
I would like to thank these four esteemed HMB alumni for agreeing to be interviewed for this article. I am developing a list of HMB alumni who have served or are currently serving in the military. If this applies to you or you know of a former member who has served, please consider emailing me their name and contact information at bmcdavid@uw.edu.
– Brad McDavid
Lt. Col. Rob Long, ’97, U.S. Air Force
Lt. Col. Rob Long, ’97, U.S. Air Force
Rob Long grew up in Olympia, but due to being a “military brat,” actually graduated from high school in Omaha, Nebraska. Rob auditioned into the HMB in 1993 and helped anchor the snareline until he graduated in 1997 with a B.S. in electrical engineering. Rob has spent the last 19 years in the Air Force, specializing in space operations.
Rob shared his thoughts on how the HMB and the UW prepared him for a military career: “The most straightforward lesson is how important preparation and teamwork are to a group’s success. Obviously, an HMB performance doesn’t just happen; it requires hours of work and preparation. And the best shows were those that the entire team put forth their best efforts. This has been true repeatedly in my Air Force career as well…success follows preparation and teamwork.”
An additional lesson he has come to realize through his years in the Husky Band is, “a unit, group or organization can only reach peak performance through mutual trust across the organization. In the HMB, sections must trust that others will perform each different part correctly. Such trust is built through hours of practice, and—perhaps more importantly—through personal relationships and friendships. The bonds that develop outside of formal practice, on trips and during other events and gatherings, are the foundation. I’ve found that deep trust allows a group to work through adversity better as a team, offer supportive criticism to improve the whole and generally find more enjoyment from shared success. This is definitely true in the military, and I would argue you’ll find strong trust relationships in all truly successful organizations. HMB is simply a great example of one!”
Rob fondly remembers “the energy on game day and the part the band plays in creating and fostering that energy. The lasting friendships are also extremely important.”
Rob and his wife Alexandra have two daughters. He is currently stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, about 45 miles north of Santa Barbara, California.
