Biography

Staff Sergeant Alex Panos, a native of San Diego, California, entered Marine Corps Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California in September 2006. Upon graduation, he went on recruiter’s assistance, whereupon he was meritoriously promoted. Lance Corporal Panos attended Marine Combat Training and was then sent to the Basic Musician Courseat the Armed Forces School of Music in Virginia Beach, Virginia. After completing studies there, he was assigned as a Trombone Instrumentalist with Marine Band San Diego where he was a featured soloist and arranger with the Brass Quintet andwas nominated for Marine Musician of the year two times. In April of 2008 he was selected to be the Bass Trombonist of the Marine Corps All-Star Jazz Band in its inaugural year.  In January 2010, Sergeant Panos was selected to play in the third annual Marine Corps All-Star Jazz Band, and again in 2011 with the fourth annual Marine Corps All-Star Jazz Band. In April 2011, Sergeant Panos was assigned to the First Marine Division Band and in March 2013 deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with Regimental Combat Team 7. Upon returning from deployment, he was assigned to the Naval School of Music, Virginia Beach, Virginia for the January 2014 Unit Leader Course. Upon graduation, he was again assigned to the 1st Marine Division Band where he was selected to play bass trombone with the seventh annual Marine Corps All-Star Jazz Band in February 2015. In June 2015, Staff Sergeant Panos became the Small Ensemble Leader of the Band.

Staff Sergeant Panos’ awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2nd Award), Navy Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal (3rd Award), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War On Terrorism (Service) Medal, Navy Sea Service Deployment, and ISAF NATO Medal.