“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band’s Drum Major serves as the senior enlisted member of the organization and is responsible for the band’s appearance, ceremonial drill and military decorum. He is charged with directing the band in ceremonial commitments including the Inaugural Parade, and regularly leads the band in review for U.S. Presidents, Heads of State and international dignitaries. The Drum Major’s uniform is unique. He wears a bearskin headpiece and carries a mace, used to signal commands to the musicians. The ornate sash worn across his chest is called a baldric and is embroidered with the band’s crest and the Marine Corps’ battle honors. Fewer than 50 Marines have led “The President’s Own” as Drum Major in its nearly 227-year history, and on May 5, Master Gunnery Sgt. Duane King passed the mace to his successor Master Sgt. Steven Williams and retired after 30 years in the Marine Corps.

Drum Majors have been an integral part of the Marine Band since its inception. The early leadership of the Marine Band consisted of a Drum Major and a Fife Major. The Drum Major was considered the Leader of the Marine Band and the Fife Major’s responsibility was to train the fifers. In July 1861, President Abraham Lincoln signed an Act of Congress to reorganize the Marine Band, which created the positions of Leader, Drum Major and 30 musicians.

As Drum Major of “The President’s Own” since 2014, King led the band at the White House for Easter Egg Rolls, Independence Day Celebrations, Congressional picnics, and five State Arrivals—to include Pope Francis. He led the band in almost 120 Friday Evening Parades at Marine Barracks Washington and nearly 500 Full Honors Funerals at Arlington National Cemetery, escorting fallen comrades to their final resting place, to include Senators John Glenn and John Warner, Medal of Honor recipient CWO4 Herschel "Woody" Williams, and 28th and 29th Marine Corps Commandants General P.X. Kelley and General Gray. He led the band into the studio for the Late Show with David Letterman in 2017 and marched the band down Pennsylvania Avenue during the 2017 inaugural parade.

While King’s three decades of service come to an end, Williams embarks on a journey for the organization he has called his own for several years already. Like several of his predecessors, this is not the first time he’s been stationed with the Marine Band. He served as the Assistant Drum Major of the Marine Band from 2013-17, and was first stationed at the “Oldest Post of the Corps” more than 10 years ago.

Williams’ musical journey began at age 8 when he already knew that he wanted to be a military musician. Williams grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a county which has provided members of the Marine Band since the the mid-19th Century. Also a trumpet player, his grandfather’s trumpet teacher was Baird Johnson, the John Phillip Sousa Band’s first chair trumpet player.

While Williams had originally planned on attending college to pursue music, he joined the Marine Corps only two days after 9/11. After completing recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in Beaufort, South Carolina, Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger in North Carolina, and the basic course at the Armed Forces School of Music in Little Creek, Virginia, Williams received orders to the 2D Marine Aircraft Wing Band in Cherry Point, North Carolina as a trumpet instrumentalist. In 2005, he was part of a combat deployment to Al Anbar Province, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III during the Global War on Terror. Upon his return from Iraq, he was assigned to the Albany Marine Band in Georgia, and in 2009 returned to the Armed Forces School of Music to attend the Unit Leader Course followed by an assignment with the 2d Marine Division Band at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. He soon became interested in spinning the mace and the leadership required to lead the band, ultimately resulting in his stent as the Marine Band’s Assistant Drum Major. He then interviewed for and won the position of Operations Specialist in 2017 and was promoted to Operations Chief in 2023. When King announced his retirement in 2024, Williams auditioned for and won the role.

“I’m humbled to be in this position, and I look forward to upholding the traditions of our nation as Drum Major of this historic organization,” Williams said.

Applicants for the Marine Band’s Drum Major position were required to have the following qualifications: Marine Corps Military Occupational Specialty of 5521/Drum Major, rank of gunnery sergeant or above, and at least 16 years cumulative service. The two-day event included many rigorous components. The extremely competitive audition process consisted of four phases and was designed to select the staff non-commissioned officer (SNCO) who demonstrates excellence in the following categories: musicianship, leadership, military presence, personal appearance and ceremonial acumen. Prior to being advanced to the final round of the audition in Washington, D.C., candidates submitted resumes and video recordings of their ceremonial marching and conducting. Once onsite for in person auditions, all candidates led the band through a ceremonial marching sequence, conducted the band in a concert setting and appeared before a board of senior SNCOs and officers.

On May 5, Drum Major King continued a Marine Band tradition and passed the mace to Williams. Marine Band Director Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Nowlin Michael J. Colburn officiated the ceremony. Immediately following the relief and appointment, King’s retirement ceremony was officiated by The Honorable Jack Bergman, Congressman for the First District of Michigan.

Nowlin thanked the King and Williams families for their attendance and support: “The role of Drum Major of the United States Marine Band is like no other in the Marine Corps and it truly takes the commitment and support of an entire family for one to not only accept this responsibility, but for a Drum Major to be successful.”

Nowlin continued, referencing the history from Williams all the way back to William Farr in 1799, literally passing the mace and sharing the experience with the lineage unbroken.

These Marines not only represent the birth of our nation, they physically embody the generations of musical history, ceremonial tradition, and institutional knowledge that make the United States what it is today,” Nowlin said. “Duane King, serving nearly 11 years as our 40th Drum Major, is now a part of that illustrious history. The standard-bearer of what a Drum Major is and what a Drum Major of the Marine Band can be.

[Master Gunnery Sgt. King], you have left an indelible mark on our institution and we are all better having served with you. You have served with dignity, with integrity, with humility, and with tireless devotion to this historic place and these exceptional people. You have upheld your oath as a United States Marine and your commitment to steward this organization as our 40th Drum Major, and you now stand relieved with our endless gratitude and deepest appreciation.

Drum Major Williams: this task, this stewardship now falls to you. … you are made for, and are prepared for this challenge, for this stewardship. You have been working for this job your entire life and have earned this post. You are the right person at the right time to take on this mantle. Your love of the Marine Corps and of the United States Marine Band is like no other. You are a student of history—history of the Corps, history of the Band, history of the nation and have been since a very young age. You uphold the highest standards. You are a master of protocol, customs, and courtesies. You embody the Marine Corps ethos and truly understand and appreciate the roles and responsibilities of the Marine Band. You are a tireless advocate. You are a committed professional. You care for these Marines. You care about who they are, who they are capable of becoming, who they represent. You are driven—to grow, to learn, to lead. You are ready.