Chief Warrant Officer 2 Aaron Carpenter currently serves as Director of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific 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.
CWO2 Carpenter holds a Bachelors (cum laude) in Music Education from Northwestern State University and taught middle and high school band in Pineville, Louisiana prior to entering the service.
CWO2 Carpenter enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2012 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 2013 at the Naval School of Music in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
CWO2 Carpenter served as a trumpet instrumentalist in the following Fleet Marine Bands: 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band (2013-2017); and the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band (2017-2019). CWO2 Carpenter served as the Enlisted Conductor of the Quantico Marine Corps Band (2020-2022). As do all Fleet Marine musicians, CWO2 Carpenter served in a variety of music, collateral duty, and leadership roles, to include Platoon leadership.
From 2022-2024, he served as the Musician Technical Assistant at 1st Marine Corps Recruiting District. CWO2 Carpenter is also a Martial Arts Instructor.
CWO2 Carpenter was appointed a Warrant Officer and graduated from The Basic School in 2024, and he served as the Assistant Director of the U.S. Marine Forces Reserve Band (2024-2025).
CWO2 Carpenter attended the Unit Leader Course (2020) and Advanced Musician Course (2025). His awards include: the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3rd award) and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3rd award).