On Dec. 20, 2023, Lt. Col. Ryan J. Nowlin was officially designated director of the Marine Band at a change of command ceremony held at The Midwest Music Clinic in Chicago.

The ceremony, overseen by Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Christopher J. Mahoney, took place midway through a Marine Band concert in which Col. Jason K. Fettig conducted the first half and Lt. Col. Nowlin conducted the second.

As a symbol of the transfer of leadership, the John Philip Sousa baton was passed from outgoing to incoming director.