|
- Home
- Tillotson, Susan Manifold
 |
Susan Manifold Tillotson
Susan Manifold Tillotson entered UTA in 1973, and joined ROTC after graduating from the first coed ROTC Basic Camp in the summer of 1975. Active in Insurgent Team and other Corps activities, she became the first female Corps Commander at UTA in the spring of 1977. Sue won the University President’s Award for ROTC at UTA in 1977 and was listed in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. She graduated from UTA as a Distinguished Military Graduate with a BS in Political Science and was commissioned in the Ordnance Corps in May 1977. She later earned an MA in Psychological Services.
After attending the Ordnance Corps Basic Course and Airborne School, Sue became an Ordnance Platoon Leader in a Maintenance Battalion in Germany. Her next assignment was in G4 Plans and Operations at V Corps where she occupied a position at the rank of first lieutenant that was normally held by a major. After attending the Ordnance Officer Advanced Course, she served as the Maintenance Material Officer for a maintenance Battalion in the 2nd Armored Division at Ft. Hood, TX. Prior to the birth of her first son, Sue, at the rank of Captain, elected to resign her commission in December 1981.
Since that time, while raising three sons and following her husband, an Army officer, she built a volunteer and professional career of her own in support of the military. She spent over 30 years leading training, leadership development, facilitation, program management and instruction at all levels, including the university level. She created and managed high-visibility employee development programs for every level of the federal government from GS 7 interns to Senior Executive Service programs. She created “first of their kind” programs in various government agencies. She was the first to head the National Park Service’s Leadership Development Program, a national program for key leadership positions across the park service, after having built a similar program at the Smithsonian Institution. She has created and facilitated executive and employee development programs at the Brookings Institution, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the US Department of Health and Human Services.
She has received special recognition from the Department of the Army for implementation of programs at Camp Zama, Japan: the Transition Assistance Program, Army Family Team Building, Family Spouse Employment Assistance, and Installation Volunteer Coordinator.
While doing all of this, Sue remained active in volunteer organizations. She sang in the Fort Hood Community Choir, and in Turkey she started a Christian Clown Troupe that served local Turkish orphanages and hospitals. She co-created an on-post babysitting co-op, taught children’s church, taught Water Safety, and was swimming coach for 10-11 year olds. Sue was also a Red Cross Instructor and Educator providing safety programs at Ft. Polk, LA. In Washington, D.C., she served for 11 years as an “Army Arlington Lady”, one of many volunteers who represent the Chief of Staff of the Army and his wife to grieving Army families at the Arlington National Cemetery.
Her awards include the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Department of the Army Outstanding Civilian Service Award, the Department of the Army Achievement Medal for Civilian Service, a Special Impact Award from the Smithsonian, the HHS Secretary’s Distinguished Service Award, and being named one of the Outstanding Young Women in America.
Sue and her husband, Col. (USA, retired) Mark E. Tillotson, live in Springfield, VA., and are currently welcoming their first grandchild.