Gunnery Sergeant McElwee currently serves as the Production Manager of Marine Forces Reserve Band. In this capacity he is the chief sound engineer and the band’s marketing and communication lead.
Gunnery Sergeant McElwee holds a Bachelors of Music in Media and Minor in Business Communications from the University of Texas at Arlington. Gunnery Sergeant McElwee also earned a Recording Arts Diploma from Mediatech Institute.
Gunnery Sergeant McElwee enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 2000 and completed Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California and Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton, California. He completed the Basic Music Course in 2001 at the Armed Forces School of Music in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Gunnery Sergeant McElwee served as an audio-visual technician and trombone instrumentalist and in the following Fleet Bands: 1st Marine Division Band (2001-2004); III Marine Forces Reserve Band (2011-2014); 2d Marine Aircraft Wing Band (2015-2017). He served as a Small Ensemble Leader in the following Fleet Marine Bands: 1st Marine Division Band (2017-2020). Additionally, he served in the 36th Infantry Division Band (2007-2010) with the Texas Army National Guard. As do all Fleet Marine musicians, Gunnery Sergeant McElwee served in a variety of music, collateral duty, and leadership roles, to include Platoon leadership.
Gunnery Sergeant McElwee deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003). In 2021, Gunnery Sergeant McElwee served as a recruiter at Recruiting Station Fort Worth.
Gunnery Sergeant McElwee attended the Unit Leader Course (2014), Sound Reinforcement Course (2017). Gunnery Sergeant McElwee was recognized as 2023 Recruiter of the Year for Recruiting Station Fort Worth. His awards include Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2d award) and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3d award).