When the band was still a military unit, the drum major was chosen based on seniority and military ability. They were the leaders of the unit along with the designated Chief Musician and Principal Musician. When the military structure of the band ended in 1938, the drum major became the primary field director.
- 2025 — Travis Cloyd, Jake Green, Tanner Maas, Gretchen Muth
- 2024 — Vilynn Decker, Annetta von Kampen, Tanner Maas, Jason Manzitto
- 2023 — Vilynn Decker, Steffani Nolda, Madison van Ophem, Jason Manzitto
- 2022 — Matt Jackson, Ian Maltas, Steffani Nolda, Katherine Schmit
- 2021 — Jacob Coughlin, Ian Maltas, Molly Olander, Katherine Schmit
- 2020 — Jacob Coughlin, Sarah Ernst, Sydney McGahan, Molly Olander
- 2019 — Jacob Coughlin, Madeline Kelly, Ethan Millington
- 2018 — Jacob Coughlin, Rachel Hoffman, Ethan Millington
- 2017 — Jacob Coughlin, Meghan Coughlin, Rachel Hoffman
- 2016 — Ben Coatney, Meghan Coughlin, Emily Hoffman, Austin Moran
- 2015 — Sarah Bigge, Emily Hoffman, Kayla Krueger, Patrick Luddy
- 2014 — Kayla Krueger, Nicholas Raimondi, Karissa Van Liew, Brian Vuu
- 2013 — Andrew Kroeger, Kayla Krueger, Ali Malik, Nicholas Raimondi
- 2012 — Andrew Kroeger, Hannah Lambert, Ali Malik
- 2011 — Joanie Halouska, Andrew Kroeger, Tommy Krueger
- 2010 — Craig Mathis, Justin Potter, Amy Rischling
- 2009 — Marcus Brown, Lindsey Engels, Jessica Thacker
- 2008 — Doug Bogatz, Jeffica Thacker, Christopher Watson
- 2007 — Adam Killham, Brien Krienke, Joseph Manglitz, Christopher Watson
- 2006 — Adam Killham, Joseph Manglitz, Christopher Watson
- 2005 — Sarah Hranac, Adam Killham, Joseph Manglitz
- 2004 — Tyler Hottovy, Jennifer Johannes, Sarah Stratton
- 2003 — Tyler Hottovy, Jennifer Johannes, Sarah Stratton
- 2002 — Allison Swope, Stephen Mohring, Nicole Makens, Erin McCarthy
- 2001 — Allison Swope, Jon Buller, Stephen Mohring, Jeremy Penn
- 2000 — Amy Molacek, Stephen Mohring, Allison Swope
- 1999 — Amy Molacek, Jeremy Penn, Brian Corey
- 1998 — Amy Molacek, Nathan Kress, Jeremy Penn
- 1997 — Brandy Spreitzer Palatas, Kristian Veit
- 1996 — Brandy Spreitzer, Lanette Lopez-Ramirez, Todd Cook
- 1995 — Christy Kucera, David Puckett, Lanette Lopez-Ramirez
- 1994 — Becky McGuire, David Puckett, Christy Kucera
- 1993 — Becky McGuire, Nathan Nelson, David Puckett
- 1992 — Becky McGuire, Jessie Sutton
- 1991 — John Balcer, Becky McGuire, Jessie Sutton
- 1990 — Lance Nielsen, John Balcer
- 1989 — Lance Nielsen, Dan Barry, Mark Mason
- 1988 — Dan Barry, Lance Nielsen
- 1987 — Linda McMorris, Robert Lyons
- 1986 — Brian Walker, Matt Eisenhauer, Linda McMorris
- 1985 — Brian Walker, James Kordik, Roger Knee
- 1984 — Brian Walker, James Kordik, Roger Knee
- 1983 — Brian Walker, Scott Adkins, James Kordik
- 1982 — Robert Krueger, Brian Walker
- 1981 — Bill Kellett, Byron Braasch
- 1980 — Matt Finkner, Bill Kellett
- 1979 — Matt Finkner, Bill Kellett
- 1978 — Dennis Mann, Matt Finkner
- 1977 — Dennis Mann, Matt Finkner
- 1976 — Ken Tiekotter, Don Thursby, Diane Miller Frost
- 1975 — Ken Tiekotter, Don Thursby, Diane Miller
- 1974 — Michael Goodwin, Doug Briggs, Ken Tiekotter
- 1973 — Michael Goodwin, Tom Wilson, Doug Briggs
- 1972 — Charles Teutsch, Michael Goodwin, Tom Wilson
- 1971 — Steve Klintberg, Eric Hornbacher, John Crotty
- 1970 — Jeff Klintberg, Steve Klintberg, Jerry Roberts
- 1969 — Jeff Klintberg, Robert Slie, Steve Klintberg
- 1968 — Jeff Klintberg, Robert Slie, Terry Lyon
- 1967 — Lynn Moeller, Jeff Klintberg, Robert Slie
- 1966 — James Wickless, Lynn Moeller
- 1965 — James Wickless, Keith McCreight
- 1964 — James Wickless, Keith McCreight
- 1963 — James Wickless, Keith McCreight
- 1962 — James Wickless, Keith McCreight
- 1961 — James Wickless, Jack Watkins
- 1960 — Terry Boyes, James Wickless, Jack Watkins
- 1959 — Terry Boyes, Robb Force
- 1958 — Terry Boyes, Tom Laregen, Darwin Dasher
- 1957 — Richard Oehring, Terry Boyes, Tom Largen, Ken Walker
- 1956 — Richard Oehring, Terry Boyes, John Dawson
- 1955 — John Dawson, Terry Boyes
- 1954 — John Dawson, Terry Boyes
- 1953 — Richard Huebner, Jack Rogers, John Dawson, Paul Cook
- 1952 — Dan Johns, Paul “Jack” Davis, John Moran, Paul Cook
- 1951 — Aaron Schmidt, Paul “Jack” Davis, John Moran
- 1950 — Aaron Schmidt, Paul “Jack” Davis, John Moran
- 1949 — Dan Johns, Dale Anderson, Aaron Schmidt
- 1948 — Dan Johns, Dale Anderson, Chris Kuyatt, John Moran
- 1947 — Robert Tangeman, Walter Davis, Dale Anderson
- 1946 — Robert Tangeman, Walter Davis, Stuart Tangeman
- 1945 — Robert Tangeman, Aaron Schmidt
- 1944 — Robert Tangeman, Ray Scholz
- 1943 — Norman Veta, Robert Tangeman
- 1942 — Dewayne Wolf, Hubert Rodman
- 1941 — Dewayne Wolf, Hubert Rodman
- 1940 — Pat McNaughton, Avery Forke, Don Steel
- 1939 — Pat McNaughton, Avery Forke
- 1938 — Pat McNaughton, Avery Forke, Leon Davis
- 1937 — George Bacon, Avery Forke
- 1936 — George Bacon
- 1935 — Charles Ledwith
- 1934 — Loren Hnizda
- 1933 — Bernard Jennings
- 1932 — Jack Plamandon
- 1931 — Emory K. Peterson
- 1930 — Eugene S. Robb
- 1929 — Carroll R. Pauley
- 1928 — W. Rollin Barnes
- 1927 — Raymond McCormack
- 1926 — Reuben J. Maaske
- 1925 — Raymond Lewis
- 1924 — Morris F. Shickley
- 1923 — Morris F. Shickley
- 1922 — Burford G. Gage, Grove Bixby
- 1921 — Lester H. Boyd
- 1920 — Herman G. Schroeder
- 1919 — Harold H. Lewis
- 1918 — Harold H. Duers
- 1917 — M. L. Springer
- 1916 — Leslie W. Ellis
- 1915 — Raymond Saunders
- 1914 — William M. Locke
- 1913 — Leon Hines
- 1912 — George C. Beck
- 1911 — Ralph Hanna
- 1910 — Merlin O. Bates
- 1909 — L. R. Blanchard
- 1908 — M. L. Struve
- 1907 — Jasper M. Clark
- 1906 — Jasper M. Clark
- 1905 — John W. Early
- 1904 — John W. Early
- 1903 — R. J. Wenstrand
- 1902 — J. E. Clark
- 1901 — R. W. Speiser
- 1900 — H. P. Peterson
- 1899 — W. P. Fitzgerald
- 1898 — Bert B. Abry
- 1897 — E. H. Kring
- 1896 — E. H. Kring
- 1895 — U. V. Hedge
- 1894 — Harvey Heald
- 1893 — L. C. Oberlies
- 1892 — W. L. Westerman
- 1891 — Paul Pizey
- 1890 — James B. McDonald
- 1889 — H. A. Reese
- 1888 — Walter B. Graham
- 1887 — George H. Baughman
- 1886 — George H. Baughman
- 1885 — William S. Perrin
- 1884 — Paul F. Clark
- 1883 — Roscoe Pound
- 1882 — none appointed
- 1881 — D. L. Clark
- 1880 — none appointed
- 1879 — none appointed