John Sullivan has been the Color Guard Director at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri since 1992, where he directs the 88-member PRIDE Color Guard and the three Missouri State winter guards - The Pride of Missouri State, National Avenue, and 901 Performance Ensemble.  Each year the winter guards perform locally in the Mid-Continent Color Guard Association (MCCGA) as well as regionally and nationally in Winter Guard International (WGI). Both The Pride of Missouri State and National Avenue have earned numerous finalist appearances at the Winter Guard International World Championships since 1994, and in 2023 The Pride of Missouri State was the Independent Open Class Bronze Medalist at the WGI World Championships. The PRIDE Color Guard has appeared with the 300-member PRIDE Marching Band in the Tournament of Roses Parade, MACY’S Thanksgiving Day Parade, London New Year’s Day Parade, Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade and in exhibition at Bands of America Regionals and Grand National Championships.

Since 1982, he has served as a color guard designer, instructor, and adjudicator for programs and festivals throughout the Midwest. Through the years, John has served as an adjudicator for the Paris New Year’s Day Parade, as an artist-in-residence with the Kansas City Public Magnate Schools, and color guard instructor for the Alamo Bowl Mass Band,Camping World Bowl Mass Band, Missouri Lions Band, and America’s Birthday Celebration Herald Brass. John was a founding member of the Mid-Continent Color Guard Association in which he serves as Vice-President. He has represented the A and Open Classes for Winter Guard International as one of the A/Open Class Representatives. John has presented clinics at the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference, Missouri Bandmasters Association Conference, and the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic (with the Missouri State University Senior Band Staff).