Master Chief Musician Greg Bonistalli

Senior Enlisted Leader, U.S. Fleet Forces Band

29 January 2024
Master Chief Musician Greg Bonistalli was born in Washington, DC and raised in Lanham, Maryland. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in November 1992 as a French Horn Instrumentalist.  Upon completion of Recruit Training in Great Lakes, Illinois, and the Basic Course of Instruction at the Naval School of Music in Little Creek, Virginia, he reported for his first tour of duty at Navy Band San Diego in September, 1993.  After his tour there in 1996 he separated from active duty service and returned home to Maryland where he taught horn privately at his former High School, DeMatha Catholic High School.
 
Master Chief Bonistalli returned to active duty in October, 2000 and was assigned back to San Diego for a second tour with the now renamed Navy Band Southwest. In late 2004, he returned to the Naval School of Music and completed the Sound Reinforcement Technician Course before reporting for a subsequent tour of duty at U.S. Fleet Forces Band in Norfolk, Virginia.
 
He reported back to the Naval School of Music in 2007 for the Unit Leader Course prior to assignment with Navy Band Southeast in Jacksonville, Florida and returned to the Naval School of Music one last time in 2010 to complete the Senior Musician Course.  After graduation, Master Chief Bonistalli joined the Navy Music Program Management team, currently known as Fleet Band Activities, as the Materiel Manager.  It was there in Millington, Tennessee that he was selected and initiated as a Chief Petty Officer in 2011. Following his tour in Tennessee, he returned to Navy Band Southwest for a third time in 2014 and was advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer in 2015.  After he completed his third tour in San Diego, he reported to Navy Band Northwest for his first assignment as Senior Enlisted Leader/Assistant Director in July, 2018 and was advanced to Master Chief Petty Officer in 2020 and reported to US Pacific Fleet, Honolulu HI, in December 2020. 
 
Master Chief Bonistalli now serves as Senior Enlisted Leader for the U.S. Fleet Forces Band.  He is a graduate of the Navy’s Senior Enlisted Academy Class 232 Gold and his personal awards include: Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 Awards), Navy Good Conduct Medal (9 awards), National Defense Service Medal (2 awards), Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, the Pistol Sharpshooter Ribbon, and numerous unit decorations.