Director of Bands:
CDR JOHN MICHAEL ALVERSON, USN (Ret.)

CDR JOHN MICHAEL ALVERSON, USN (Ret.)
A native of Etowah, Tennessee, Commander "Mike" Alverson is a graduate of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville holding a Bachelors degree in Music Education. He was a four year member of the UT "Pride of the Southland" Marching Band as a trombone instrumentalist as well as President and Assistant Director of the University of Tennessee Singers.
CDR Alverson enlisted in the Navy in April 1971 and deployed aboard the USS CHUKAWAN (AO-100). His first assignment as a Navy Musician was to The United States Navy Band in Washington, DC.
His following tours of duty included Navy Band Orlando, Florida and as a staff instructor at The Armed Forces School of Music, Norfolk, Virginia.
After completing the Intermediate and Enlisted Bandleaders courses, Commander Alverson reported to the Bureau of Naval Personnel as Detailer and Manpower Resource Analyst. He was selected for advancement to Senior Chief Musician in April 1982. In May 1983 while serving with Navy Band Newport, Rhode Island, he received his appointment to Ensign and was reassigned to The United States Naval Academy Band as their Supply Officer.
Commander Alverson's subsequent assignments as Director, Navy Band Charleston, South Carolina and Director, U.S. Pacific Fleet Band, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii provided the opportunities for his bands to entertain audiences from Puerto Rico to Iceland and Australia to India. In June 1990 he returned to the Armed Forces School of Music as Director of Training and in March 1992 assumed duties as that command's Executive Officer.
Serving as Director, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Band beginning in April 1994, Commander Alverson conducted the band during events commemorating the Normandy Invasion's 50th Anniversary in England, France, and on board the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73). Additionally, Commander Alverson led the band through a tour of Ireland, in support of the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY's (CVN-67) historic visit to that country. This event marked the first carrier visit to an Irish port. In 1997, under his direction, the Atlantic Fleet Band performed in Canada as the United States representative to the Nova Scotia International Tattoo. In September 1998, Commander Alverson reported to The United States Naval Academy Band, serving as its Director until his retirement from active duty in September 2001, and after moving back to the Norfolk, Virginia area, was employed by the Virginia Arts Festival as Coordinator and Musical Director of the Virginia International Tattoo from 2001 to 2003. In 2004, he returned to Charleston to become Director of Bands at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.
Commander Alverson's military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy Achievement Medal (three awards), Coast Guard Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal (three awards), Humanitarian Service Medal, plus numerous unit awards.