Captain Randel Metzinger currently serves as Director of the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band. In this capacity he serves as the officer in charge and principal conductor. He manages, administers, and coordinates musical performances, develops budgets and annual operation plans, directs internal operations and training, and supervises the employment of a Marine Corps Fleet Band.
Capt. Metzinger enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 2003 and completed Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina and Marine Combat Training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He completed the Basic Music Course in 2005 at the Armed Forces School of Music in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Capt. Metzinger served as a saxophone instrumentalist in the following Fleet Marine Bands: 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band (2005-2009); 1st Marine Division Band (2009-2012); and Marine Band San Diego (2013-2015). As do all Fleet Marine musicians, Capt. Metzinger served in a variety of music, collateral duty, and leadership roles, to include Platoon leadership.
Capt. Metzinger deployed to the Al Anbar Province, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2006). From 2015 to 2018, he served as an Instructor at the Naval School of Music.
Capt. Metzinger was appointed a Warrant Officer and graduated from The Basic School in 2018, and he served as the Director of the following Fleet Marine Bands: Quantico Marine Band (2018-2020); 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band (2020-2022); and Marine Band San Diego (2022-2024).
Capt. Metzinger attended the Unit Leader Course (2012), Senior Musician Course (2015), Sound Reinforcement Course (2016), and he is a graduate of Expeditionary Warfare School (2021). His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2nd award), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2nd award).