About the Fellowship

The Iris Burton Bulls ROTC Fellowship Program is named after the late Army Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Iris Burton Bulls in recognition of her exceptional contributions to DOD.

Colonel Bulls served the United States in and out of uniform for over 42 years, retiring first from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2006 and then from Federal civilian service in 2021. Colonel Bulls served on the Defense Language Transformation Team, which developed the plan to build foreign language capabilities of strategic interest to DOD. Her work resulted in the comprehensive Defense Language Transformation Roadmap that guided the development of language capacity throughout DoD. She helped found the Defense Language Office in 2006 and served in the Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO) as its founding Deputy Director in 2012.

Her career achievement underscores Colonel Bulls’ unflagging commitment to language and culture training. Colonel Bulls was especially passionate about furthering opportunities for military officers from diverse backgrounds and communities underrepresented in the Services. The fellowship program aims to honor her legacy by representing these communities in its selection of Fellows each year.