Gunnery Sgt. Brandon Johnson currently serves as the production manager of the 2nd Marine Division Band. In this capacity he is the chief sound engineer and the band’s marketing and communication lead.
Gunnery Sgt. Johnson studied saxophone performance and jazz studies at Western Michigan University and Grand Rapids Community College under Trent Kynaston and Duane Davis.
Gunnery Sgt. Johnson enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2007 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.
Gunnery Sgt. Johnson served as a saxophone instrumentalist in the following fleet Marine bands: Parris Island Marine Band (2007-2013); and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band (2014-2018). He served as a small ensemble leader in the following fleet Marine bands: 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band (2018), and the 1st Marine Division Band (2020-2022). As do all fleet Marine musicians, Gunnery Sgt. Johnson served in a variety of music, collateral duty, and leadership roles, to include platoon leadership.
From 2018 to 2020, Gunnery Sgt. Johnson served as the platoon Sgt. at the Naval School of Music.
Gunnery Sgt. Johnson was promoted to his current rank in 2022 and served as the production manager of the following fleet Marine bands: 1st Marine Division Band (2022-2023) and the Quantico Marine Corps Band (2023-2025).
Gunnery Sgt. Johnson attended the Unit Leader Course (2013), Sound Reinforcement Course (2016), Advanced Musician Course (2020) and is a graduate of the Career Course (2020). His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3rd award) and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.