Larry MacTaggart

Larry MacTaggart is freelance composer, arranger, conductor, and music educator.

A graduate of the University of Arkansas (BME-1981) and the University of Nebraska (MM-1983), MacTaggart was director of instrumental music in the Fairbury (Nebraska) public school system from 1983 to 1985.

He enlisted in the Air Force in September 1985, serving as a member of the Public Affairs career field as a full time musician. In addition to providing ceremonial support, he helped tell the story of the U.S. Air Force through the universal language of music to thousands of people. Starting his career as a percussionist with the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command Band, (later, the Heartland of America Band) at Offutt AFB, NE, he performed extensively throughout the Midwest and Great Plains. In 1994, MacTaggart transitioned from performing to composing and arranging music.

In 1997, he was reassigned to The United States Air Force Band in Washington D.C., serving as a staff music arranger. In 2000, he was named Chief Music Arranger and Production Manager, a position he held until 2007. While with this unit, he created music for several performing groups in the Air Force Band and for special guest artists including Roy Clark, Wynonna Judd, The Gatlin Brothers, Glenn Campbell, Kool and the Gang, Chaka Khan, Rita Coolidge and many more.

MacTaggart transitioned to a senior level management position in February of 2007 taking an assignment at the Pentagon as the senior Human Resources program manager for all Air Force Bands. In this position, he served as an advisor to the Air Force Director of Public Affairs on personnel, recruiting, deployment, training, and quality of life issues for 14 Air Force bands. In addition, he coordinated training programs with 12 Air National Guard Bands. While in this position MacTaggart deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

In 2009, MacTaggart transferred to the Headquarters, Pacific Air Forces at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii where he served as Regional Human Resources Manager for the Air Force Band of the Pacific. This unique unit operated from three locations: Alaska, Japan, and Hawaii, performing thousands of events annually in support of the commanding General, U.S. Pacific Air Force.

After 27 years on active duty; traveling to all 50 states and 13 countries, MacTaggart retired from the Air Force in October of 2012. MacTaggart’s military decorations include, the Meritorious Service Medal, which he received six times.

Upon his retirement from military service, his career in human resources continued, first as a Benefits Specialist and Generalist for Berkshire Hathaway Media Group based in Omaha. In 2017, he moved to a similar position as a Sr Human Resources Coordinator with LEO A DALY an architecture, engineering, and design firm headquartered in Omaha, NE. In this position, he provides a full array of human resources support to over 700 employees in offices around the world.

He is married to the former Jill Divis of Brainard, NE; they have one daughter, Mallory.