Senior Chief Dianne Bullock, a cryptologic technician (collection), promoted to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer, Oct. 28. Bullock was joined by family and friends in a ceremony on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Deputy Commander, Destroyer Squadron Two, Captain William Harkin served as presiding officer over the ceremony and Retired Senior Chief Petty Officer Jaqueline Moise served as guest speaker. Bullock’s father, Harvey Bullock, and LCDR John Stan affixed her Warrant Officer collar devices and LCDR Shameeka Colon placed her officer cover. As with tradition, Bullock’s Senior Chief anchors were passed along to Chief Cryptologic Technician Collection Michelle Moss.
Bullock is a native of Farmville, North Carolina, and graduated from Farmville Central High School in 2001. The following year, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy and completed basic training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois.“I joined the Navy because I wanted to grow up and truly understand what it meant to take responsibility and ownership of your life decisions and to be held accountable through the process,” Bullock said. “I knew I could accomplish that in the military.”
Bullock attributes her drive and ambition to past and present senior influences.
“Serving in the military gives me a chance to give back to my family and give to the sailors what was given to me in my early years,” Bullock said. “I have the opportunity to pass it on to those around me on a daily basis. Seeing them excel is what gives me my motivation to continue.”
Bullock’s first command was Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where she served as Ground Defense Force supervisor and Field Training Officer. Following a tour as a Law Enforcement Officer and Harbor Patrolman for submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS-39) with Naval Station Activity La Maddalena in Italy, she cross-rated to cryptologic technician (collection).
Bullock served at Naval Information Operations Command, Honolulu, Hawaii, and forward-deployed onboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), USS Nimitz (CVN-68), USNS Stockham and USS George Washington (CVN-73) in support of Pacific and 7th Fleet. She then deployed with Special Operations Joint Task Force in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She was selected to Chief Petty Officer in 2014 and graduated from the Navy’s Senior Enlisted Academy in 2017.
Bullock’s most recent command was Information Warfare Training Group (IWTG) in Norfolk where she served as N8 Cryptologic/Electronic Warfare/Cyber Department Leading Chief Petty Officer. Her time at this command led her to the decision to transition to the officer ranks.
“IWTG elevated my way of thinking about the Information Warfare community,” Bullock said. “This command made me want to be more involved in the decision-making process and truly have an influence in the future of where we are headed regarding cryptology and sailors.”
With 18 years in the Navy, and having worked up the ranks in numerous roles and responsibilities, Bullock has learned many lessons.
“It isn’t easy," Bullock said. "Every day is a new day with new problems, but worth every minute of my time and dedication, I have learned to take my struggles and turn them into my testimony so I can continue to help others understand their struggles and get through them. The Navy can be the best or the worst thing that can happen to you, it’s up to the decisions you make along your journey that defines it.”
Throughout all of her commands, Bullock’s dearest memory of her time in the Navy goes back to the beginning.
“My favorite memory of my time in the Navy was at my boot camp graduation," Bullock said. "I saw the biggest smile on my mother’s face that I had ever seen before. I think that was the proudest she had ever been of me and I could see and feel it. That’s what keeps me going when I want to give up. Her smile and how proud of me she was that day until the day she passed away in 2005, three years after I joined.”
Bullock also attributes her success to friend and mentor Master Chief Laura Stout. They served together at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, and Stout always pushed Bullock to get to the next level.
“From the moment I met her, I was drawn to her authentic and driven sense of self,” Stout said. “Bullock is first and foremost one of the most amazing woman leaders I’ve had the pleasure of serving with. Who she is at her core and how she leans in and leads up has made her so impactful to the Navy.”
Stout says Bullock’s foundation is built of spirit, drive and passion, and that has led to her commissioning as a Naval officer.
“Growth and change are inevitable,” Stout said. “Observing this leader adapt to challenging assignments while promoting creativity and innovation among those she leads is the most remarkable change. She will bring a unique, empathetic style of leadership to the wardroom.
“My hope for her in the future is to experience limitless self-fulfillment while enjoying new adventures and memories as a Naval officer. I hope she lives every day as her truest self and remembers to nourish her mind, body and soul.”
As far as advice for those sailors who might want to achieve this goal, Bullock said she didn’t exactly plan to make this decision from the beginning.
“For so many years, I saw myself going into a different direction in my Naval career,” Bullock said. “Hold on to everything that makes you unique. Don’t look at your differences as flaws, but look at them as pieces of your puzzle that make you incredible. Don’t let anyone tell you that your vision for yourself isn’t possible because of how they see you. The only thing that matters is how you see yourself. And at the end of the day, you’ll eventually come out on top.”
Bullock is currently completing a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources from Southern New Hampshire University. Her next command will be with USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) in San Diego as the Information Warfare Officer.