Gunnery Sgt. Michael Newell currently serves as the production manager of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band. In this capacity he is the chief sound engineer and the band’s marketing and communication lead.
Gunnery Sgt. Newell holds a Master of Science in Business Administration from Quantic School of Business and Technology, Bachelor of Arts in Music from Thomas Edison State University, and an associate degree from Florida State College at Jacksonville.
Gunnery Sgt. Newell enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2006 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 2007 at the Armed Forces School of Music in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Gunnery Sgt. Newell served as a saxophone and clarinet instrumentalist in the following fleet Marine bands: Albany Marine Band (2007-2011); Quantico Marine Band (2011-2016); and the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band (2016-2019). He served as the small ensemble leader in the following fleet Marine bands: III Marine Expeditionary Force Band (2019-2022); and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band (2022-2023). As do all fleet Marine musicians, Gunnery Sgt. Newell served in a variety of music, collateral duty, and leadership roles, to include platoon leadership.
Gunnery Sgt. Newell deployed in support of Marine Forces Europe and Africa - Djibouti (2018). In 2016, he served as an academics instructor at Marine Corps Officer Candidate School.
Gunnery Sgt. Newell attended the Sound Reinforcement Technician Course (2008), Unit Leader Course (2012), and is a graduate of the Career School (2018). His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2nd award).