Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Geary currently serves as director of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing 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.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Geary holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from James Madison University and a Master of Arts in Music Education from Boston University.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Geary enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2010 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 2010 at the Naval School of Music in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Geary served as a trombone instrumentalist in the following fleet Marine bands: III Marine Expeditionary Force Band (2010-2014); and the Quantico Marine Band (2014-2018). Chief Warrant Officer 2 Geary served as an enlisted conductor with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band (2018-2021). As do all fleet Marine musicians, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Geary served in a variety of music, collateral duty, and leadership roles, to include platoon leadership.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Geary served as an instructor at the Naval School of Music from 2021-2024. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Geary is also a Marine Corps martial arts instructor.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Geary was appointed a warrant officer and graduated from The Basic School in 2024, and he served as the assistant director of the 2nd Marine Division Band (2024-2025).
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Geary attended the Unit Leader Course (2018) and Advanced Musician Course (2023), and is a U.S. Navy master training specialist. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Geary was the Marine Musician of the Year (2013), the recipient of the Colonel Hamilton Military Outstanding Musician Award (2013), and the Navy’s Center for Service Support Mid-Grade Instructor of the Year (2022). His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4th award) and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.