BOWLING GREEN — A Bowling Green State University alumnus and world-renowned musician has added another accolade to his resume after being named the 29th director of “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band.
Lt. Col. Ryan Nowlin, who received degrees from BGSU in 2000 and 2004, assumed the role Dec. 20, taking the helm from Col. Jason K. Fettig, who held the position since 2014.
Colonel Nowlin joined the Marine Band as staff arranger in 2010 and was later appointed to assistant director and commissioned as a first lieutenant in 2014. He rose to the rank of captain in 2016 and was named associate director of the band in January, 2020.
“The directorship is the honor of a lifetime,” Colonel Nowlin said. “It’s a stewardship of American musical and ceremonial history, which I approach with the utmost reverence and respect. The United States Marine Band’s role is one of service through music to all — what could be more inspiring than that?”
Before joining the Marine Band, Colonel Nowlin taught instrumental music for 10 years in Ohio.