John Williams, one of the most popular and recognizable American composers of our time, recently sat down for a short interview about his time in the U.S. Air Force with Col. Larry H. Lang, commander and conductor of The U.S. Air Force Band.

Williams entered the Air Force in 1952 and attended basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He was stationed at both DavisMonthan AFB, Arizona and Pepperrell AFB in St. Johns, Newfoundland. He primarily served as a pianist and brass player; his arranging and writing, though extensive, was a secondary duty.

While serving in Canada, Williams was a part of the Air Force's early international outreach initiatives. Now, through this interview, he is part of the Band's latest efforts to tell the Air Force story and reach a global audience via social media more than 60 years later.