Where are they now: Cristina Moore

Editor's note: This new weekly feature, titled 'Where are they now?,' will serve as a weekly look at the current lives of former residents of the area who have moved on.

From the halls of Kimball County High School to big band halls with the United States Air Force, former Kimball resident, Cristina Moore, granddaughter of Mary Moore of Kimball, has made quite the impression.

Moore Urrutia was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force, on April 1, 2016 – her third official command in the USAF.

Moore Urrutia attended Kimball schools through her sophomore year in high school before her family moved to Scottsbluff. She graduated from Scottsbluff High School in 1991, and went on to college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, receiving her Bachelor's of Music degree in Horn Performance, and her Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting.

"In 1992, I joined the Army National Guard as the Principal horn of the 43rd Army Band in Lincoln. At the time, this was an opportunity for me to serve part time in the Guard while going to college, allowing me to focus on my music in both places and have some steady income to help cover expenses outside of my scholarship," she said.

She was also 'gigging' as a horn player in the local symphony, where, according to Moore Urrutia, she met the Deputy Commander of the Heartland of America Band who was subbing as a percussionist. "When I told him I was working on a Master's degree in conducting, he encouraged me to audition to participate in a conducting clinic the band had that summer," she said.

Moore Urrutia began her career in the US Air Force in April of 2001 and was, throughout her service, an instrumental part of the U.S. Air Force band as the Conductor.

Prior to moving to Japan, Moore was stationed in Boston, Mass., Washington, D.C., San Antonio, Texas, Belleville, Ill., and Montgomery, Ala.

Moore Urrutia explained that at that time, she wasn't really sure if she wanted to be in the military full time, but after a lot of prayer and soul searching, she decided to 'go for it!'.

"I am so grateful that I made that leap of faith," shared Moore Urrutia, "It has been such a joy to serve my country through music. It hasn't been easy, having to pick up and leave friends and family every few years to go where the AF said I needed to go, but it has certainly been an exciting journey thus far."

She also stated that at this point in her life, she has made the commitment to make the military her lifetime career. In addition to being a Conductor, she is also the Commander of her unit.

"I am in charge of 40 personnel, 25 in Japan and 15 in Hawaii, 39 of these personnel are US Air Force enlisted, and 1 is a Japanese civilian who works with our group in Japan as our Community Relations Specialist," she said.

Duties for Moore Urrutia are to direct the vision and direction of the unit, including decisions involving operational strategy, budget, training, and discipline. She works with other Departments of Defense, and at times, Department of State agencies to synchronize their efforts and align with Air Force priorities in the region in which they are located.

A ceremony for Moore Urrutia's honorable promotion was held in March at the Yokota Air Force Base near Tokyo, Japan, with her mother, Stella, in attendance. Mrs. Moore had the honor of pinning her daughter during the ceremony.

"I found out back in June of 2015 that I was selected for promotion," offered Moore Urrutia, "but I didn't actually "pin-on" until Apr 1, 2016."

The USAF of the Pacific band in which the young woman belongs has historically been a key part of the United States' strategy in using music to help build strong and lasting relationships with a diverse set of allies throughout the Pacific region and many different regions.

For Moore Urrutia, the most exciting part of being a commander of an Air Force band is being able to use music to break down barriers and build relationships in ways that no other military tool can do.

"I have performed for diverse audiences, from local communities to heads of state, and each one is important as we seek to honor our veterans, inspire patriotism and boost morale, as well as foster trust in our Air Force and nation worldwide," she said. "Frankly, I'm just thankful. Nothing in life is guaranteed, and I am grateful that my leadership saw fit to recommend me for promotion. Commanding such a gifted group of Airmen is an awesome responsibility, and I pray that I am able to lead them well."

She added that as a member of the Air Force, she never expected to have to do 'sea duty', but she had the opportunity to deploy with the Navy on a humanitarian training mission to Central and South America.

"I commanded a small Air Force band aboard the USNS Comfort as part of Operation CONTINUING PROMISE in 2009. The band's mission was to take the message of the US' friendship and partnership to the local population in the areas that we docked, sharing the story of the US' ongoing efforts to build relationships in our own hemisphere. We visited nine countries, some of which included Haiti, Colombia, Panama, and Nicaragua," she added.

Moore Urritia expects to know this summer if her two-year assignment in Japan will be extended to a four year tour. As for being in Japan, Moore Urrutia explained that being stationed in Japan is incredibly exciting.

"The Pacific is a very dynamic theater, and there has never been a more important time for the US to work on strengthening relationships with our current allies and partners in this area, as well as seeking to reach out to other nations for the security and stability of the region," she said. "Air Force bands are often able to open doors where other military units may not have as much success. We have seen this first hand in Okinawa, and being part of our nation's efforts to strengthen ties with the local population is more important than ever!"