Captain Alex Panos currently serves as Director, Marine Forces Reserve Band. In this capacity he serves as the officer in charge and 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.
Capt. Panos holds a Bachelors in Music (with Honors) from San Diego State University.
Capt Panos enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 2006 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 2007 at the Armed Forces School of Music in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Capt. Panos served as a trombone instrumentalist in the following Fleet Marine Bands: Marine Band San Diego (2007-2011); and the 1st Marine Division Band (2011-2015). Capt. Panos served as a Small Ensemble Leader in the following Fleet Marine Bands: 1st Marine Division Band (2015-2017); As do all Fleet Marine musicians, Capt. Panos served in a variety of music, collateral duty, and leadership roles, to include Platoon leadership.
Capt. Panos deployed to the Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (2013). He served as a Trombone Instructor at the Naval School of Music (2017-2018), and he toured with the Marine Corps Jazz Orchestra (2008-2017). Capt. Panos is also a Martial Arts Instructor.
Capt. Panos was appointed a Warrant Officer and graduated from The Basic School in 2018, and he served as the Director of the following Fleet Marine Bands: Marine Band San Diego (2018-2022); 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band (2022-2024).
Capt. Panos attended the Unit Leader Course (2014), and he was the Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Musician of the Year (2015). His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2nd award), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4th Award).