Melvin Lauf, Jr. (b. Ottawa, Ohio, February 12, 1971) is a graduate of The Armed Forces School of Music. During his first tour in the U.S. Army, he was stationed with the 113th Army Band "Dragoons" at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He spent the rest of his military service as a fife instrumentalist with "The Old Guard" Fife and Drum Corps.

Separate from his military career, Lauf has written works for various ensembles, most notably for the flute and flute ensembles. He is currently retired from the military, living in Newport News, and is an active flutist, piccoloist, and harpist in addition to running his company, FLUTE.NET Publications.

He currently plays harp with the Hampton Roads Philharmonic; and piccolo (and assistant conductor) with the Peninsula Concert Band. He has also played harp with the Tidewater Winds and the Virginia Symphony; flute/piccolo with the York River Concert Band and piccolo/harp with the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble.

Lauf has taught flute, trumpet, and harp at Old Dominion University (Community Music Division) as well as the Liberty Academy of the Arts (Hampton, Virginia)..

Lauf's works for the flute and flute ensemble are published by Nourse Wind Publications and FLUTE.NET Publications.