Early career

After completing his undergraduate studies, Fettig performed as a clarinetist with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra.^[5] He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1997 and was posted to the U.S. Marine Band.^[1] In 2002 he was commissioned first lieutenant and appointed assistant director of the band.^[5] Two years later, in 2004, he was promoted to captain and the band's executive officer and, in 2007, was further promoted to major.^[5] During his tenure as assistant director, Fettig led expansion of the band's educational outreach programs, organizing clinics for music students in the District of Columbia Public Schools and creating an annual Young People's Concert.^[6]

Director of the United States Marine Band

Fettig was promoted to lieutenant colonel, receiving the John Philip Sousa Baton and, with it, command of the United States Marine Band during a 2014 change of command ceremony officiated by Commandant of the Marine Corps General James F. Amos at Schlesinger Hall in Springfield, Virginia.^[5][7] He was advanced to colonel by order of President of the United States Donald Trump in an August 2017 promotion ceremony held in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.^[4][5] Fettig's was the first military promotion personally performed by Trump.^[8]

As director, Fettig led the Marine Band during live performances on Late Night with David Letterman and National Public Radio.^[4] He also launched a project to re-record all of the collected marches of John Philip Sousa, and personally conducted the world premieres of new works by Adam Schoenberg, David Conte, David Rakowski, and Narong Prangcharoen.^[4] In 2018, under Fettig's direction, the Marine Band was named as an artist in its first regional Emmy Award, given in the category Special Event Coverage Other than News and Sports, for the WNET-TV broadcast of the television special United States Marine Band "New England Spirit".^[9][10] In 2021, Fettig led the Marine Band in the inauguration of Joe Biden amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his capacity as director of the United States Marine Band, Fettig was also music adviser to the President of the United States.^{[5][11][12][13]}

Col Fettig retired from the United States Marine Corps on December 20, 2023. LtCol Ryan Nowlin assumed the directorship in a change of command ceremony at the 2023 Midwest Clinic.

University of Michigan

On July 20, 2023, the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance announced that Col Fettig would be joining its faculty as Director of Bands and professor in the Department of Conducting, starting in January 2024.