SAN FRANCISCO, CA (12/3)- Flanked by cheering current and former students, State Board of Equalization Member Fiona Ma presented her Jrotc Youth Equalizer Award to Lieutenant Colonel Doug Bullard, who has been the chief instructor at the Lowell High School JROTC Program since 1997. The award was presented to Colonel Bullard during the Annual JROTC Fall Competition held this past weekend.

“I am so proud to present my Youth Equalizer Award to Col. Bullard in recognition of his decades of service, first as a soldier in the army, and later as a member of our community who has instilled the values of discipline, service and self-reliance to thousands of students in his nearly 20 years as head of Lowell High School’s JROTC program,” said Board Member Ma. “I was thrilled to work with him to keep JROTC in San Francisco Schools, and I have been proud to call him a dear friend.”

Lt. Colonel Bullard was born and raised in Vermont, where he was an enthusiastic outdoorsman. In 1974, he graduated from the University of Vermont, with a Bachelor of Sciences in Forestry. He later attended the University of Oklahoma, where he earned a Masters in Communications. Upon completing his masters, he was granted a commission in the Army Corps of Engineers, beginning his military career attached to the 326 Engineer Battalion, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY. He was later stationed in Germany, as Aide de Camp to the Commanding General, US Army Engineering School and as a Professor of Military Science at the University of San Francisco.

During his service in the Army, Colonel Bullard was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the US Army Corps of Engineers deFleury Medal for service to the Corps of Engineers. He retired from active service in 1997, and joined the JROTC at Lowell High School as Senior Army Instructor, a position he continues to hold today.

In 2008, Colonel Bullard worked with Fiona Ma and community leaders, veterans and JROTC students across San Francisco to pass Measure V, an advisory ballot measure which declared "It is hereby the policy of the City & County of San Francisco, California that students in San Francisco public high schools should continue to be able to choose to participate in the schools' Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program.” After a spirited public campaign, Measure V passed with a strong majority 55 percent vote.

“Colonel Bullard has been such a positive influence in the lives of young San Franciscans. He is one of the bright, shining leaders of our community, and it is my honor to recognize him,” added Ms. Ma.

The JROTC Program mission philosophy is "To Motivate Young People to be Better Citizens." The JROTC Program is a service to our nation that provides cadets the motivation and skills to remain drug free, graduate from high school, and become successful citizens. The Program works to instill in students in secondary educational institutions the values of citizenship, service to the community and the United States, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment. Junior ROTC cadets may qualify for an advanced placement in the Active or Reserve Components of the Armed Forces. There is no military obligation associated with JROTC.

The five-member California State Board of Equalization (BOE) is a publicly elected tax board. Established in 1879 by a constitutional amendment, the BOE was initially charged with responsibility for ensuring that county property tax assessment practices were equal and uniform throughout the state. Currently the tax programs administered by the BOE are concentrated in four general areas: sales and use taxes, property taxes, special taxes and the tax appellate program. The BOE collects $60 billion annually in taxes and fees supporting state and local government services. It hears business tax appeals, acts as the appellate body for franchise and personal income tax appeals, and serves a significant role in the assessment and administration of property taxes. For more information on other taxes and fees in California, visit www.taxes.ca.gov.

Fiona Ma represents close to 10 million people living in District Two on the State Board of Equalization. Her district includes the following 23 counties: Alameda, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Tehama, Trinity, and Yolo.
For more information, please visit Board Member Ma’s website at:http://www.boe.ca.gov/ma/

- John Vigna 916-445-4081