Gunnery Sgt. Ted McElwee currently serves as the production manager of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve Band. In this capacity he is the chief sound engineer and the band’s marketing and communication lead.
Gunnery Sgt. McElwee holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Media with a minor in Business Communications from the University of Texas Arlington. Gunnery Sgt. McElwee also earned a Recording Arts Diploma from Mediatech Institute.
Gunnery Sgt. McElwee enlisted in the U.S. 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 Sgt. McElwee served as a trombone instrumentalist in the following fleet Marine bands: 1st Marine Division Band (2001-2004); III Marine Expeditionary Force Band (2011-2014); and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band (2015-2017). He served as the small ensemble leader in the following fleet Marine band: 1st Marine Division Band (2017-2020). Additionally, he served with the 36th Infantry Division Band (2007-2010), Texas Air National Guard. As do all Fleet Marine musicians, Gunnery Sgt. McElwee served in a variety of music, collateral duty, and leadership roles, to include platoon leadership.
Gunnery Sgt. McElwee deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003). In 2021, Gunnery Sgt. McElwee served as a recruiter at Recruiting Station Fort Worth.
Gunnery Sgt. McElwee attended the Unit Leader Course (2014), Sound Reinforcement Course (2017). Gunnery Sgt. McElwee was recognized as the 2023 Recruiter of the Year for Recruiting Station Fort Worth. His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2d award), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3d award).