Communication Strategy Chief Master Sergeant Rachel Ghadiali of Clendenin, W.Va., joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in June 2006. She was appointed to assistant communication strategy chief in July 2014, and to her current position in September 2023.

Master Sgt. Ghadiali began her musical training on piano at age 5 and saxophone at age 10. After graduating in 1995 from Herbert Hoover High School in Clendenin, she attended Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, N.C., where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music in 1999. Upon graduation, she joined the United States Marine Corps and attended recruit training at Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Beaufort, S.C. In May 2000, she reported to the Quantico Marine Band at Marine Base Quantico in Quantico, Va., where she served until August 2003. In 2016, Master Sgt. Ghadiali earned a master’s degree in public relations and corporate communications from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.  

Prior to joining “The President’s Own,” she worked as the promotions director for Salem Communications’ WAVA 105.1 FM in Washington D.C. Her duties included church and media relations and event planning.

As Communication Strategy Chief, Master Sgt. Ghadiali manages the band’s social media initiatives; develops publicity campaigns for performances, special events, and national concert tours; creates audience development plans; writes and edits news stories, feature articles, and biographies; works with members of the local and national media; designs and produces CDs, brochures, flyers, and a quarterly newsletter and other direct mail pieces with an international circulation; represents “The President’s Own” at concerts and national conventions; advances the band’s annual concert tour and manages sponsors’ tickets and publicity efforts; and maintains the Marine Band website.