Operations Chief Master Sergeant Steven Williams of Lancaster, Pa., joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in April 2013 as the Assistant Drum Major and became an Operations Assistant in June 2017. In 2023 he was named Operations Chief.

Master Sgt. Williams began his musical training on trumpet at age 8. After graduating from Lampeter-Strasburg High School in Lancaster in 2002, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and attended recruit training at Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Beaufort, S.C. Following recruit training, he attended Marine Combat Training and the basic course at the Armed Forces School of Music in Little Creek, Va., as a trumpet player. He then received orders to the 2D Marine Aircraft Wing Band in Cherry Point, N.C. From January to September 2005 he was deployed to the Al Anbar Province in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III. In 2006, he received orders to the Albany Marine Band in Georgia, and in 2009 returned to the Armed Forces School of Music to attend the Unit Leader Course. Prior to joining “The President’s Own” he was stationed with the 2D Marine Division Band at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. As Assistant Drum Major for “The President’s Own,” he led the band in ceremonial commitments and, as the Company Gunnery Sergeant, he oversaw unit and new member training.

As Operations Chief, Master Sgt. Williams is responsible for the daily scheduling and logistics of the Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra commitments. In addition, he is a Ceremonial Drill School Instructor at Marine Barracks Washington. During his time as Assistant Drum Major, he marched on the Marine Barracks Washington Evening Parade Staff for two seasons.