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Marine Band Drum Major Thomas D. Kohl
Biography of Marine Band Drum Major Thomas D. Kohl

Master Gunnery Sergeant Thomas D. Kohl served as the 38th Drum Major of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. Drum Major Kohl joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in December 1999 as assistant Drum Major, and became the band’s Drum Major in February 2001.

MGySgt Kohl began his musical training on the clarinet at age 9. After graduating from Eisenhower High School in Rialto, Calif.,in 1986, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and attended basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, Calif. He was subsequently assigned to the basic course at the Armed Forces School of Music in Little Creek, Va. During his career, MGySgt Kohl has performed with the 2nd Marine Division Band, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; Marine Forces Pacific Band, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; III Marine Expeditionary Force Band, Okinawa, Japan; and the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing Marine Band in El Toro, Calif., where he also served as enlisted bandleader and drum major. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from Chapman University in Orange, Calif., and a master’s degree from the University of Maryland in College Park.