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The Outstanding Young Alumni Award, established in 1986, is given for outstanding professional performance and achievements to those who have graduated in the last 25 years. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Brian Dix was named director of “The Commandant’s Own,” the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps in 1998. He is only the fourth person to hold the prestigious position since the Corp’s inception in 1934.
Under his leadership, the Corps’ extensive repertoire has expanded with original music that he composed. Dix has also produced five CD’s of “The Commandant’s Own.” His personal decorations include the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal (for Heroic Achievement) with Gold Star in lieu of second award, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal and a Navy Certificate of Commendation for his volunteer work with Operation Iraqi Freedom casualties at the National Naval Command Hospital in Bethesda, MD.
Dix earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 1982 and enlisted in the Marines the following year. In 1996, he returned to school and earned a Master of Music degree in conducting from George Mason University.
He is an active member of American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and the Conductors’ Guild and is sought nationally as an arranger and conductor.