Gunnery Sergeant Hayes currently serves as the Drum Major of Marine Band San Diego. In this capacity he directs, trains, and manages the musical performance of the Ceremonial Band while on the march and instructs band personnel in drill specific to Marine Bands. GySgt Hayes also manages the band’s administration and operations sections.
Gunnery Sgt. Hayes holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Mississippi.
Gunnery Sgt. Hayes enlisted in the US 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 2012 at the Naval School of Music in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Gunnery Sgt. Hayes served as a trombone instrumentalist in the following Fleet Marine Bands: 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band (2012-2016); 1st Marine Division Band (2016-2019; 2022-2023). As do all Fleet Marine musicians, Gunnery Sgt. Hayes served in a variety of music, collateral duty, and leadership roles, to include Platoon leadership.
From 2019-2022, Gunnery Sgt. Hayes served as a Drill Instructor aboard Marine Corps Recruit Dept San Diego. Gunnery Sgt. Hayes is a Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor.
Gunnery Sgt. Hayes attended the Unit Leader Course (2023), and the Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Career Course (2020). His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3rd award), and a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.