Wednesday, March 22, 2023

MTSU Adjunct Writes Space Force Anthem

Date:

Share post:

Story by Makayla Sulcer | Contributing Writer

An adjunct professor at Middle Tennessee State University officially gave the U.S. Space Force their anthem on Sept. 20, 2022, according to a news release from the university.

Jamie Teachenor, the song’s author, teaches the songwriting practicum course in the College of Media and Entertainment at MTSU.

Teachenor is a veteran and a prior member of the U.S. Air Force band. He has also been a long-time supporter of the U.S. Space Force, supporting them since they were the Air Force Space Command, according to Chief of Space Operations General Jay Raymond.

U.S. Air Force veteran Jamie Teachenor was recently hired as adjunct professor in the MTSU College of Media and Entertainment’s Commercial Songwriting program. (Submitted photo)

Odie Blackmon, a Grammy-nominated songwriter and an associate professor in the Department of Recording Industry, invited Teachenor to teach at MTSU.

Teachenor is “one of the sweetest, most caring people I know,” Blackmon said. “Jamie is a beautiful human who can do anything he sets his mind to.”

“Our traditions are part of the fabric that weave us all together as we execute our missions side-by-side; I will be proud to sing ‘Semper Supra’ alongside my fellow Guardians,” Raymond said about the song.

The song’s title, “Semper Supra,” came from the U.S. Space Force’s motto, which means “Always Above.” Teachenor used this motto as his main inspiration for the piece.

“The song was a long work in progress because I wanted it to encompass all the capabilities that the Space Force offers and its vision,” Teachenor said.

Teachenor collaborated with various military bands and chief musician Sean Nelson, U.S. Coast Guard Band trombonist and staff arranger. He received twelve musical submissions of the song before collaborating with Nelson.

“I did what I thought was going to be the most exciting kind of sounds, and it seemed to work,” Nelson said about the piece in a video released by the Space Force.

“Semper Supra” was declared the official song of the U.S. Space Force on Sept. 20, 2022.

To contact News Editor Matthew Giffin and Assistant News Editor Kailee Shores, email newseditor@mtsusidelines.com.

For more news, visit www.mtsusidelines.com, or follow us on Facebook at MTSU Sidelines or on Twitter at @Sidelines_News.

Related articles

Rutherford County Democratic Party elects new executive chair

Story and photos by Jenene Grover Rutherford County Democratic Party, RCDP, elected Morgan Woodberry as its executive chair along...

MTSU BSCC hosts “Poetry In Motion”

Photos and story by Reggie Johnson Jr. Middle Tennessee State University's Black Student Creatives Collective hosted their "Poetry In...

A visit from across the pond: MTSU Debate Team welcomes back Irish debate champions 

Featured Graphic by Destiny Mizell Story by Baylah Close Yesterday evening students, faculty and other spectators gathered in the Honors...

The third anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic is upon us

Story by Alyssa Williams March 13, 2020 is a date branded in the minds of many Rutherford County citizens....