Born and raised in Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania, Chief Warrant Officer Four Kathleen Schiafone attended Clarion University of Pennsylvania where she graduated with a bachelor of science degree in Music Education in 1986, cum laude. She attended basic training in May 1986 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and Advanced Individual Training at the U.S. Army Element School of Music, Little Creek Navy Base, Norfolk, Virginia, graduating as a 02N piano player in February 1987. She was an honor graduate at the Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC) at Fort Hood, Texas, and the distinguished honor graduate at the Basic NCO Course (BNCOC), Army Element SOM 1992.
CW4 Schiafone was the first female to graduate from the Warrant Officer Basic Course (WOBC) for Bandmasters in 1993. In 1996, she received a master of music degree, summa cum laude, from Jacksonville State University. Other military schools include the Warrant Officer Advanced Course, Warrant Officer Senior Course, Warrant Officer Senior Staff Course, the Observer/Controller/Trainer Course, and How the Army Runs Course.
CW4 Schiafone has been assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division Band, Fort Hood, Texas; the Army Element School of Music, Norfolk, Virginia; the 296th Army Band, Japan; and the 14th Army Band, Fort McClelland. In October 1996, she took command of the 80th Division Band, Richmond, Virginia, for 19 years. She has been a USAR staff band officer for the Army Band Strategic Group since 2000, working with National Guard and active-duty Army Band leaders. As staff bands officer, her duties included officer course development and instruction, Force Design Updates, Army regulation and policy revisions, and evaluating USAR units. She served on active duty for 10 years and in the Army Reserve for 24 years as piano player, French horn player, conductor, and commander performing music throughout the United States, Japan, Germany, and Egypt.
In her civilian career, CW4 Schiafone has been a high school chorus teacher for 21 years and has developed courses in Piano and Guitar for her school in Virginia. She has two daughters – Stephanie, a 2020 University of Virginia graduate, and Rachel, a current student at Tidewater Community College.