He served twice as leader of the United States Marine Band—briefly in 1816-1817 and then from 1818 to 1827. He first succeeded William Farr (1799-1804) and Charles S. Ashworth (1804-16) as acting Leader/Drum Major from Oct. 17, 1816 to Dec. 10, 1817, until the new Leader/Drum Major John Powley enlisted. In 1818 Pulizzi resumed his duties of acting Leader/Drum Major and was officially promoted to Leader/Drum Major on July 24, 1824. He served with the band in this capacity until Sept. 3, 1827. He was the first American of Italian ancestry to be the leader in a major American band or orchestra. The highlight of his tenure was the visit of Lafayette to the United States in 1824–25. Lafayette arrived in Washington on Oct. 12, 1824 and was greeted with the largest parade ever held in the capital. Two days later, President Monroe hosted a state dinner in his honor. Music for both occasions was furnished by the Marine Band, directed by Venerando Pulizzi. During the banquet hosted at the White House in celebration of the birthday of Lafayette, September 6, 1825, as the guests stood for the toast, Pulizzi led the Marine Band in playing "The Marseillaise". Venerando Pulizzi continued for some years to play in the Band after the end of his tenure. He left the band and was promoted to Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps in 1832 and served at Headquarters until his death in 1852.