Master Gunnery Sergeant Luis O. Arce was born in Peru, South America, and raised in Chicago, Illinois, where he graduated from Amunden Senior High School.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps in July 1977, and completed Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego in November that same year. After graduating from the Basic Music Course at the Armed Forces School of Music, Norfolk, Virginia, he was assigned as a trumpet player with the 1st Marine Brigade Band, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii until his honorable discharge in 1981. Corporal Arce then served in the Marine Corps Reserves as an Aircraft Mechanic with Marine Air Group 41 in Glenview, Illinois.

In May 1983, he returned to active duty and served as a trumpet player with the following Marine Corps bands: Recruit Depot Band, San Diego, California; the III Marine Amphibious Force Band, Okinawa, Japan; and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing Band, New Orleans, Louisiana.

After graduating from the Intermediate Course at the Armed Forces School of Music in 1993, he was transferred to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Band, Parris Island, South Carolina where he served as trumpet section leader and assistant Drum Major. After being selected for Drum Major in 1997, Gunnery Sergeant Arce was assigned to the 1st Marine Division Band, Camp Pendleton, California. In April 2000, Master Sergeant Arce was transferred to the III MEF Band, Okinawa, Japan for one year, and was then transferred to serve as Band Master with the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Band, San Diego. In January 2004, he was assigned to the Third Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, California, where he serves as the Band Master and was promoted to his current rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant on April 1, 2004.

His professional schools include the Non-Commissioned Officer's School, the Staff Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCO) Academy and the Advanced SNCO Academy. Additionally, Master Gunnery Sergeant Arce possesses a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems and Business Administration from Park College, and has been inducted into the Pinnacle Honor Society for exceptional academic achievement.

Master Gunnery Sergeant Arce's personal awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star, the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Meritorious Unit Citation with two bronze stars, the Good Conduct Medal with one silver star and one bronze star, the National Defense Medal with one bronze star, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with four bronze stars.