Chief Librarian and Historian Gunnery Sergeant Charles Paul of Allentown, Pa., joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in February 2012. In 2019 he became assistant chief librarian, and in 2022 he was appointed to his current position.

Gunnery Sgt. Paul began his musical training on piano at age 5 and French horn at age 13. After graduating in 1997 from Parkland High School in Allentown, he attended the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he earned a bachelor’s degree in horn performance in 2002 and studied with Randy Gardner. He received his master’s degree in horn performance in 2004 from Temple University in Philadelphia where he studied with Adam Unsworth of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Prior to joining “The President’s Own,” Gunnery Sgt. Paul was a freelance musician in Washington, D.C., and has performed with the Richmond Symphony and Fairfax Symphony Orchestra in Virginia, the National Philharmonic and Washington Concert Opera in Washington, D.C., the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, and the Allentown Symphony.

As Marine Band Chief Librarian, Gunnery Sgt. Paul oversees preparation of music for performances by the Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra, and maintenance of the music library. As Historian, Gunnery Sgt. Paul researches and preserves the band’s history, maintains the archives and conducts oral history interviews with former members.