Brigadier General Bullard is a 1982 graduate of Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Financial Management. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant from Officers Candidate School. Upon completion of Basic School he reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola for flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in January 1985. Follow on CH-46 helicopter training was conducted at the Marine helicopter Training Squadron (HMT-204) at the Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina.
Brigadier General Bullard has served in the following operational Marine Medium Helicopter squadrons (HMM): HMM-263, HMM-161 and HMM-774, and was the Commanding Officer of HMM-161 from May 2000 to December 2001. Deployments include the 26th and 24th Marine Amphibious Units, Special Operations Capable (SOC), aboard the USS Guadalcanal where he participated in operations against Libya in 1986 and Operation EARNST WILL involving the re-flagging of Kuwaiti tankers in 1987. From 1989 to 1993, he was assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 where he served as CH-46 division head and was attached to HMM-161 for DESERT SHIELD and HMM-774 for DESERT STORM. In 1994, he deployed on USS Essex with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) ,SOC, where he supported UN sanctions enforcement against Iraq and conducted operation UNITED SHIELD, the UN withdrawal from Somalia. As Commanding Officer of HMM-161, he deployed on USS Tarawa as the Aviation Combat Element for 13th MEU (SOC) and participated in Humanitarian Assistance Operations in East Timor and Operation DETERMINED RESPONSE, the USS Cole recovery in Yemen. Upon completion of command, he was assigned as Executive Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 16.
His most recent operational assignment was as the Commanding Officer of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit from May 2005 to June 2008. He conducted two deployments on USS Peleliu and USS Tarawa to the US Central Command Area of Operations in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM & ENDURING FREEDOM. He also participated in hurricane relief efforts for JTF Katrina and the Cyclone Sidr relief efforts in Bangladesh during SEA ANGEL II.
His major staff tours include Headquarters Marine Corps in the Aviation Department's Plans, Policies, Joint Doctrine, and Budget Branch where he served as congressional matters and budget Officer. Additionally, he served as Aide-de-Camp to Deputy Commandant for Marine Aviation. He was assigned to J5-Plans at US Central Command and deployed to the forward headquarters in support of operations IRAQI FREEDOM & ENDURING FREEDOM. His most recent staff assignment was Branch Head of Marine Aviation Weapons Systems Requirements Branch for Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation Department.
His first general officer assignment is Senior Deputy Military Representative/Chief, NATO Advisory Team in Sarajevo.
He earned a Masters of Business Administration from Webster University (1992), attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College (1997) and received a Masters in Military Strategy from the Air Force War College (2003).
His personal awards include Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, Air Medal with Strike Flight, Navy/Marine Commendation Medal with Gold Star, and Navy/Marine Achievement Medal.