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.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Carpenter holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education (cum laude) from Northwestern State University and taught middle and high school band in Louisiana prior to entering the service.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 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.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 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). Chief Warrant Officer 2 Carpenter served as the enlisted conductor of the Quantico Marine Band (2020-2022). As do all fleet Marine musicians, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Carpenter served in a variety of music, collateral duty, and leadership roles, to include platoon leadership.
From 2022-2024, he served as a musician technical assistant with 1st Marine Corps District. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Carpenter is also a Marine Corps martial arts instructor.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Carpenter was appointed a warrant officer and graduated from The Basic School in 2024 and served as the assistant director of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve Band (2024-2025).
Chief Warrant Officer 2 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 the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3rd award).