Chief Warrant Officer 5 Dan Eckhoff entered military service as an enlisted Marine private first class on April 23, 1982, and was later commissioned as a Warrant Officer on June 26, 1997. He assumed the role of 88th Readiness Division Command Chief Warrant Officer in February 2020.
His first duty station in 1983 after completing 23 weeks at the Armed Forces School of Music Basic Course in Norfolk, Virginia, was as a trumpet player for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band in El Toro, California. He soon was designated the trumpet section leader as lance corporal and ultimately showband leader as a corporal. He finished out active service in 1986 before transferring to the Individual Ready Reserve. During his service in the Marine Corps he met his wife of 34 plus years, the former Miss Jennifer Franklin. Both were enlisted Marines and have proudly served together on active and reserve duty since 1984.
CW5 Eckhoff joined the Army Reserve in August 1989 as a member of the 451st Army Band. In 1993 he accepted the duty of primary drum major and led the band through ceremonies and parades until his commissioning. These duties included notable performances to consist of ceremonies and parades for the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France. He served as bandmaster for the 451st Army Band after his commissioning in June 1997 and commander from October 1998 until January 2017. His follow-on tour as staff band officer for the 88th Regional Support Command also afforded the opportunity to serve as their acting command chief warrant officer. He presently dual-hats as the staff band officer for the United States Army Reserve, a duty he assumed upon his promotion in December 2017.
CW5 Eckhoff has served duty in France, Germany and Italy as part of the 451st. Additionally, he has served at Fort Carson, Fort Benning (where the 451st was the first to take vocals onto the parade field), Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Fort Riley, and multiple support missions to Washington, D.C. In addition to serving as senior bandmaster for the Army Reserve, his current duties include participating on the Army Bands Steering Group and Adjutant General Board of Directors.
CW5 Eckhoff holds an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration from Saddleback Community College, California, a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Mankato State University, Minnesota, and several professional certificates for IT and software development. His military education includes Warrant Officer Basic and Advanced courses, Staff and Senior Staff courses, and attendance at the Senior Leader Seminar developed for strategic officers.
CW5 Eckhoff's awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Marine Good Conduct, Armed Forces Reserve Achievement Medal with Gold Hourglass device, Army Components Achievement Medal, Primary Leadership Development ribbon, Army Service ribbon, and Reserve Component Overseas Training ribbon.
CW5 Eckhoff is married to the former Miss Jennifer Franklin of San Bernardino, California. They have one adult daughter, Desiree and reside in Ramsey, Minnesota.