Biography

Chief Warrant Officer Three (CW3) Benjamin W. McMillan is a native of Dacusville, South Carolina; son of Hugh and Virginia McMillan. He completed secondary education at Wade Hampton High School in Greenville, South Carolina. Mr. McMillan graduated from nearby Furman University in 2000, earning Cum Laude honors with both the Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and the Bachelor of Music degree in Trumpet Performance. Mr. McMillan subsequently earned the Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of North Texas in 2003. He also attended the University of South Carolina for post-graduate study in music and served as a band graduate assistant.

Mr. McMillan joined the South Carolina Army National Guard as a Musician (Trumpet/Bugler) with the 246th Army Band in April 2005. He graduated Basic Combat Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, in June 2006, and he was selected for early completion of Advanced Individual Training at the US Army School of Music at Join Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia. His Active Duty enlisted assignments include the Training and Doctrine Command Band, Ft. Monroe, Virginia, the US Army Europe Band and Chorus, Tompkins Barracks, Germany, and the US Army Signal Corps Band, Ft. Gordon, Georgia. Mr. McMillan is a Commandant's List graduate of Warrior Leader Course, an Honor Graduate of Advanced Leader Course, and an Honor Graduate of Warrant Officer Candidate School. He has completed Warrant Officer Basic and Advanced Courses. Prior to leading The U.S. Army Blues and Army Band Downrange, Mr. McMillan led the 1st Infantry Division Band, Fort Riley, Kansas, and the 399th Army Band, Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Throughout his military career, CW3 McMillan has enjoyed performing as featured soloist and guest conductor across the United States and Europe to include guest-conducting the St. Louis and Salina Symphonies and recording with the International Military Musicians Society. In December 2019, Mr. McMillan led the 1st Infantry Division Brass Quintet on a troop morale deployment in support of the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve across Kuwait, Iraq, and austere locations in Syria, representing the first US Military music mission in that country. Mr. McMillan is a recipient of the Colonel Finley Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award. He has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (2OLC), the Army Commendation Medal (3OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (4OLC), the Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award), the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. Mr. McMillan is an alumnus of Sigma Pi Sigma, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Phi Beta Kappa Honor Societies in Physics, Music, and Academics.

Chief Warrant Officer Three McMillan is married and has one son and a cat.