The 50th Anniversary Edition of The Reporter profiled Senior Enlisted Advisors (SEAs) to The Judge Advocates General (TJAGs) from the beginning of our corps until the turn of the century. In this edition, we continue to chronicle the SEAs from the past 25 years.
Senior Enlisted Advisors to The Judge Advocate General
(1999-2024)
Chief Master Sergeant Clemencia G. Jemison (2000-2004)
Chief Jemison enlisted in the Air Force in July 1972 from her hometown in Pasadena, California. After completion of basic training, she began her military career as an Administrative Specialist and retrained into the Legal Services career field in 1981. Chief Jemison obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California State University, Los Angeles, California, in 1981. Chief Jemison’s assignments included tours at Norton Air Force Base (AFB), California; Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand; McGuire AFB, New Jersey; Pope AFB, North Carolina; Kunsan Air Base (AB), Korea; Yokota AB, Japan; Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; and Ramstein AB, Germany. Chief Jemison was selected as the Senior Paralegal Manager to The Judge Advocate General in 2000.
Chief Master Sergeant Avis R. Dillard-Bullock (2004-2007)
Chief Dillard-Bullock entered active duty in November 1979 from her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. Upon completion of basic training, she began her career as a Law Enforcement Specialist and retrained into the paralegal career field in 1985. Chief Dillard-Bullock holds Associate Degrees in Police Studies and Paralegal Studies from Community College of the Air Force and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business and Management from University of Maryland University College, Adelphi, Maryland. Chief Dillard-Bullock served in several positions at base level to include claims, military justice, civil law, and law office manager. She also served as a superintendent at the Numbered Air Force (NAF) level. Her assignments included tours at Ramstein AB, Germany, and Langley AFB, Virginia, as well as at bases in Texas, Nebraska, Korea, England, and Italy. She also served in Operations PROVIDE COMFORT, JOINT GUARD, and ALLIED FORCE. Chief Dillard-Bullock was selected as the Senior Paralegal Manager to The Judge Advocate General in 2004.
Chief Master Sergeant Ann D. Stocks (2007-2009)
Chief Stocks entered active duty in April 1980 from her hometown of Boston, Massachusetts. Upon completion of basic training, she began her career as a Photo Systems Specialist. In 1986, she was recruited and retrained into the paralegal career field. Chief Stocks holds an Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies from Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex, Alabama. Chief Stocks served in a number of positions at base level to include claims, military justice, civil law, and law office manager. She also served as a superintendent at the NAF level as well as three-time Command Paralegal Manager. Her assignments included tours at Nellis AFB, Nevada; Royal Air Force (RAF) Upper Heyford, United Kingdom; Eaker AFB, Arkansas; Izmir Air Station, Turkey; Sembach AB, Germany; US Air Force Academy, Colorado; Ramstein AB, Germany; Scott AFB, Illinois; Langley AFB, Virginia, and Hickam AFB, Hawaii. She was the 1989 recipient of the Air Force Outstanding Paralegal of the Year Award. Chief Stocks was selected as the Senior Paralegal Manager to The Judge Advocate General in 2007.
Chief Master Sergeant John P. Vassallo (2009-2012)
Chief Vassallo entered active duty in February 1982 from his hometown of Oscoda, Michigan. Upon completion of basic training, he began his career as an Automatic Flight Control Systems Specialist. In 1993, he retrained into the paralegal career field. Chief Vassallo served in several law office manager roles at the wing level and served at the NAF level. Chief Vassallo was also a Command Paralegal Manager. His assignments included tours in Patrick AFB, Florida; Eielson AFB, Alaska; Tyndall AFB, Florida; Osan AB, Korea; Whiteman AFB, Missouri; F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming; and Peterson AFB, Colorado. Chief Vassallo was selected as the Senior Paralegal Manager to The Judge Advocate General in 2009.
Chief Master Sergeant Steven Wallace (2012-2014)
Chief Master Sergeant Wallace entered active duty in August 1985. Upon completion of basic training, he began his career as a Guidance and Control Systems Technician. In 1996, he retrained to the paralegal career field. Chief Wallace served in military justice and law office manager roles at the wing level and was also Group Superintendent. Chief Wallace also served as a Command Paralegal Manager twice. He holds Associate Degrees in Avionic Systems Technology and Paralegal Studies from Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex, Alabama, as well as a Bachelor of Science, Computer Science from University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland. His assignments included tours in Kunsan AB, Korea; Kadena AB, Japan; Andersen AFB, Guam; Stuttgart, Germany; Shaw AFB, South Carolina; Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Eskan Village AFB, Saudi Arabia; and Ramstein AB, Germany. Chief Wallace was selected to be the Senior Paralegal Manager to The Judge Advocate General in 2012.
Chief Master Sergeant Larry G. Tolliver (2014-2016)
Chief Master Sergeant Tolliver is a native of Detroit, Michigan, and entered active duty in February 1987. His first 10 years were spent as an Air Traffic Control Radar Maintenance Technician working on various fixed and mobile Airport Surveillance Radar, Precision Approach Radar and Meteorological Radar Systems. Chief Tolliver retrained into the paralegal career field in November 1996. He held leadership positions at the Wing, NAF, and Major Command (MAJCOM) levels. He also served as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to a brigadier general commander during his deployment to Afghanistan in 2011. Chief Tolliver holds Associate Degrees in Electronic Systems Technology and Paralegal Studies from Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex, Alabama. He also has a Bachelor of Science, Business Management and Masters of Business Administration from Columbia Southern University, Orange Beach, Alabama. His assignments included tours in Pease AFB, New Hampshire; Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Robins AFB, Georgia; Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts; and Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. Chief Tolliver was selected to be the Senior Paralegal Manager to The Judge Advocate General in 2014.
Chief Master Sergeant Bo C. Stout (2016-2018)
Chief Master Sergeant Stout is a native of Baxter, Tennessee, and entered active duty in June 1992. Chief Stout spent his first seven years as an Aircraft Armament Systems Technician. He later retrained into the paralegal career field in 1999. He held leadership positions at the Wing, NAF, and MAJCOM levels and also served as the Career Field Functional Manager at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Chief Stout holds Associate Degrees in Armament Systems and Paralegal Studies from Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex, Alabama, and a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Criminal Justice from Amridge University, Montgomery, Alabama. His assignments included Lowry AFB, Colorado; Luke AFB, Arizona; Kunsan AFB, Korea; Whiteman AFB, Missouri; Hickam AFB, Hawaii; Hurlburt Field, Florida; Ramstein AB, Germany; and the Pentagon, Washington D.C. Chief Stout also deployed in support of operations in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, and Balad, Iraq. Chief Stout was selected as the Senior Paralegal Manager to The Judge Advocate General in 2016.
Chief Master Sergeant Sherry A. Bowes (2018-2020)
Chief Master Sergeant Bowes entered active duty in 1990. Upon completion of basic training, she began her career as a Security Specialist. Chief Bowes retrained to the paralegal career field in 1994. She held leadership positions at the Wing, NAF, and MAJCOM levels. Chief Bowes has Associate Degrees in Police Science, Instructor Technology and Military Science, and Paralegal Studies from Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex, Alabama. Her assignments included tours in Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota; Randolph AFB, Texas; Maxwell AFB, Alabama; MacDill AFB, Florida; Keesler AFB, Mississippi; Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. She also deployed in support of operations in Balad, Iraq. Chief Bowes was selected as the Senior Paralegal Manager to The Judge Advocate General in 2018.
Chief Master Sergeant Ralph E. Oliver (2020-2021)
Chief Master Sergeant Oliver entered active duty in 1996 from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio. He spent the first 10 years of his career as a Pavement and Construction Equipment Apprentice where he deployed in support of operations to Tuzla AB, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Al Udeid AB, Qatar. He retrained to the paralegal career field in 2006. Chief Oliver served several positions at base level including claims, military justice, civil law, and law office superintendent. He also served as a First Sergeant and Command Paralegal Manager before becoming the Paralegal Career Field Manager. He has Associate Degrees in Construction Technology, Paralegal Studies, and Human Resources from Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex, Alabama. He also has a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management from Ashford University, Chandler, Arizona. His assignments included tours in Altus AFB, Oklahoma; Andersen AFB, Guam; Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia; Nellis AFB, Nevada; Ramstein AB, Germany; Pentagon, Washington D.C.; RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom; and RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom. He also deployed in support of operations in Iraq and Kuwait. Chief Oliver was selected as the Senior Paralegal Manager to The Judge Advocate General in 2020.
Editor’s note: In 2021, the title of Senior Paralegal Manager changed to Senior Enlisted Advisor.
Chief Master Sergeant Tynisa Haskins (2021-2023)
Chief Master Sergeant Haskins entered active duty in September 1996. After basic training, she began her career in Information Management. She retrained to the paralegal career field in 2000. Chief Haskins served in several positions at the base level in claims, military justice, civil law, and as law office superintendent. She was also a Paralegal Manager and a MAJCOM Functional Manager. She has Associate Degrees in Paralegal Studies, Information Management, and Instructor of Technology and Military Science from Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex, Alabama. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies from Kaplan University, Davenport, Iowa, and a Masters of Education from Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia. Her assignments included tours in Maxwell AFB, Alabama; RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom; Holloman AFB, New Mexico; Minot AFB, North Dakota; Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey; Joint Base Andrews, Maryland; and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. She also deployed in support of operations in Baghdad, Iraq. Chief Haskins was selected as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to The Judge Advocate General in 2021.
Chief Master Sergeant Laura Puza (2023-Present)
Chief Master Sergeant Puza entered active duty in 1998 from her hometown of Shamokin, Pennsylvania. After basic training, she began her career in Services. She retrained to the paralegal career field in 2005. Chief Puza served in several positions at the base level in claims, military justice, and civil law. She also served as a wing superintendent, law office superintendent, senior enlisted advisor, paralegal manager, MAJCOM functional manager, and the Paralegal Career Field Manager. She has Associate Degrees in Fitness, Recreation and Services Management as well as Paralegal Studies from Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex, Alabama. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies from Kaplan University, Davenport, Iowa, and a Master of Science in Administration, Human Resources from Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Her assignments included tours in Minot AFB, North Dakota; Ghedi AB, Italy; Vance AFB, Oklahoma; Quantico Marine Corps Base, Virginia; Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Joint Base Andrews, Maryland; Arlington, Virginia; Peterson AFB, Colorado; Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; and the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. She also deployed in support of operations at Al Udeid AB, Qatar, and Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates. Chief Puza was selected as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to The Judge Advocate General in 2023 and continues to serve in that position.
Edited by: Major Allison K.W. Johnson (Editor-in-Chief), Major Victoria H. Clarke, and Major Andrew H. Woodbury
Layout by: Thomasa Huffstutler