Master Gunnery Sergeant Devon Van enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and attended Recruit Training in September 1995 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California. Upon graduation from Recruit Training, he attended the Naval School of Music Basic Course in Norfolk, Virginia. In Master Gunnery Sergeant Van’s first enlistment he served as a tuba instrumentalist at the Parris Island Marine Band, July 1996 - August 1998 and III Marine Expeditionary Force Band, Okinawa, Japan, August 1998 – September 1999.

In September 1999, Master Gunnery Sergeant Van exited the Marine Corps and attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where he worked towards his bachelor’s degree in music education. While attending SIUE, Master Gunnery Sergeant Van enlisted into the Missouri Air National Guard where he was a tuba and bass trombone instrumentalist with the Air National Guard Band of the Central States out of St. Louis, Missouri.

In February 2003, Master Gunnery Sergeant Van enlisted back into the U.S. Marine Corps as a Sergeant and served as a tuba instrumentalist at the Albany Marine Band. While stationed in Albany, Georgia he was selected to go back to the Armed Forces School of Music to attend the Unit Leader Course in August 2005. After graduation, he was sent to the 1st Marine Division Band as a tuba instrumentalist.

Upon reporting to the 1st Marine Division Band in May 2006, Master Gunnery Sergeant Van was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant and served as the Assistant Enlisted Conductor and Assistant Drum Major. In May 2007, he augmented the 1st Marine Division Military Police Company, Task Force MP as a Platoon Sergeant where they deployed to Iraq in September 2007 – April 2008. While deployed in Iraq, Master Gunnery Sergeant Van was selected to become a billeted Drum Major, and after his deployment, he was given orders back to Parris Island, South Carolina.

Master Gunnery Sergeant Van served as the Drum Major for the Parris Island Marine Band, August 2008 – June 2011 and Marine Band San Diego, June 2011 – March 2015. It was during this tour in San Diego when he was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant in 2011.

In March 2015, Master Gunnery Sergeant Van attended Recruiter School, and in May 2015 he transferred to St. Louis, Missouri as a Marine Corps Recruiter. While on Recruiting duty with Recruiting Station St. Louis, Master Gunnery Sergeant Van served as a Production Recruiter, Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Recruiting Sub Station Edwardsville, and the Program Specialist until May 2018. Upon finishing recruiting duty, he was transferred to the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing Band, Miramar, California, where he served as the Drum Major until January 2019.

In January 2019 Master Gunnery Sergeant Van was promoted to Master Sergeant and was transferred to the 1st Marine Division Band to serve as their Bandmaster in February 2019. While at the 1st Marine Division, Master Gunnery Sergeant Van was attached to Combat Logistics Regiment 17 as the Arrival and Assembly Operations Element Chief where he deployed in support of Freedom Banner 2021 from June 2021 through September 2021. In August 2022, Master Gunnery Sergeant Van was then transferred back to the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing Band as the Bandmaster, and in June of 2023 Master Gunnery Sergeant Van was promoted to his current rank where he is serving as the Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing Band.

His Personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (third award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (fourth award) and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.