Bullard was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps as a second lieutenant in 1983 after graduation from Virginia Tech and Officer Candidate School.

He graduated from The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico and received assignment to Naval Air Station Pensacola for flight training.

His operational assignments include CH-46 training at MCAS New River followed by service with VMM-263, VMM-161 and VMM-774.

[1] His staff and command assignments include CH-46 division head, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 from 1989 to 1993; Aviation Combat Element leader for 13th MEU (SOC) aboard USS Essex; Executive Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 16; student, Marine Corps Command and Staff College from 1996 to 1997; Aide-de-Camp to Deputy Commandant for Aviation; Commanding Officer of VMM-161 from May 2000 to December 2001; student, Air War College from 2002 to 2003; Aviation Department's Joint Doctrine, and Budget Branch, HQMC; Plans officer at United States Central Command; Commanding Officer of 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit from May 2005 to June 2008 and Branch Head of Marine Aviation Weapons Systems Requirements Branch for Headquarters Marine Corps.

His final assignment was Commanding General, Marine Corps Installations West - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton from 2012 to 2014.