News release

Department of Defense appoints Herman Bulls to Defense Policy Board

A corporate visionary with business acumen, Bulls has led a distinguished career in providing strategic guidance to the federal government

November 29, 2021

Kimberly Steele

Industries, Work Dynamics and PDS PR
+1 713 852 3420

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29, 2021 – JLL is pleased to announce Herman Bulls, Vice Chairman, Americas, and founder of JLL's Public Institutions Business Unit, has been appointed to the Defense Policy Board by the United States Department of Defense (DoD). The Board provides the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense advice and opinions concerning matters of defense policy.

With more than 33 years at JLL, Bulls has worked in the areas of development, investment management, asset management, facilities operations, and business development. He provides thought leadership to senior level client executives on issues related to real estate, the environment, corporate governance and social trends. Bulls has also served as an expert witness on real estate matters in court and testified before Congressional committees on real estate issues. Bulls co-founded and served as President and CEO of Bulls Capital Partners, a multi-family financing company which partnered with Fannie Mae, SunTrust and Goldman Sachs. Additionally, he founded Bulls Advisory Group, LCC, a management and real estate advisory firm. Bulls notes how these entrepreneurial experiences provide him great insight on organization culture, new product development, talent management, as well as mergers and acquisition synergies.

“I am honored to join the Defense Policy Board and continue my service to the Nation by providing valuable insight to support our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Guardians, Coast Guardsmen and DoD civilians around the world as they work each day to protect American freedom,” said Bulls. “I have known Secretary Austin since our days at West Point and welcome the opportunity to work with him and his very capable senior DoD team. I also look forward to working with former Secretary Albright in her new role as the Defense Policy Board chair, as well as with the other inspiring and distinguished board members as we begin our work.”  

Prior to joining JLL, Bulls completed almost 12 years of active-duty service with the United States Army. His last active-duty assignments were working in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management at the Pentagon and as an Assistant Professor of Economics and Finance at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He has completed the Army’s Airborne, Ranger and Command and General Staff College courses and served overseas in the Republic of Korea. He retired as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves in 2008 and received the Legion of Merit award for his leadership and strategic thinking skills.

Bulls also serves on several public, private and not for profit boards including Comfort Systems, USA (NYSE: FIX), Host Hotels (NASDAQ: HST), American Campus Communities (NYSE: ACC) and Fluence Energy (NASDAQ:FLNC), where he serves as Chairman of the Board. Private boards include USAA, where he serves as Vice Chairman of the Board, Collegis Education, an educational technology company and the Real Estate Advisory Committee for New York State Teachers’ Retirement System, one of the largest pension funds in the nation. Former corporate board experience includes Tyco International (NYSE), Exelis (NYSE), Computer Science Corporation (NYSE) and Rasmussen College. Current not-for-profit board experience includes the national American Red Cross Board of Governors, the West Point Association of Graduates and the Military Bowl, an NCAA sanctioned football bowl game.

Bulls received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he played intercollegiate football, and an MBA in Finance from Harvard Business School, where he was section president.

Additional information about the Defense Policy Board and its membership can be found on its website: https://policy.defense.gov/OUSDP-Offices/Defense-Policy-Board/


About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $16.6 billion in 2020, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 95,000 as of September 30, 2021. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com.