During World War II, Tison was transferred to the United States Army Air Forces for wartime duty.

For a few months in 1931, he was the assistant to the inspector of construction for the completion of the medium survey ship USC&GS Hydrographer (MSS 19) by Spear Engine Works in Norfolk, Virginia.

[1] Assigned to duty in South America, he spent the next year in charge of photogrammetric and geodetic control operations for aeronautical charting.

[1] On July 13, 1965, a new United States Government scientific organization, the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA) was created.

[4] The citation for his award read: While serving with the Office of the Assistant Chief of Air Staff-3, Headquarters, Army Air Forces, from March 1944 to October 1945, Colonel Tison prepared and supervised the execution of a successful plan to utilize the limited map making resources of the Army, Navy and Civil Branches.

Colonel Tison's high degree of professional competence and exemplary devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and Army Air Forces.

[2] He was buried at Black Swamp Methodist Church Cemetery in Garnett in Hampton County, South Carolina.