Chief Warrant Officer Five Willis enlisted into the United States Army in February 1975. He initially served as an Infantryman and Nuclear Weapons Electronic Maintainer. In 1981 he transitioned to the Warrant Officer Corps, initially serving as a Nuclear Weapons Maintenance Technician, and in 1993 reclassified to be a Marine Engineering Officer, MOS 881A, and in 1995 was awarded the Marine Engineering Officer A-2 certification. He retired in October 2008, having served 33 years.

CW5 Willis served as the Transportation Corps Regimental Chief Warrant Officer from July 2004 to July 2007, being the first to hold this position. He served in a vast number of assignments and deployed multiple times over his career. His overseas service and deployments include Germany, Turkey, Kuwait, Iraq, Haiti, and Guatemala.

His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (w/3OLC), Army Commendation Medal (w/OLC), Army Achievement Medal (w/4OLC), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal (w/BSS), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon (w/numerical 3 device), United Nations Medal, and Driver and Mechanic Badge-Mechanic.

CW5 Willis was a Life Member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5450; Life Member American Legion Post 75, Life Member of American Veteran Post 35, and Life Member of Disabled American Veteran. His was active in the community and volunteered at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport USO and Crestview Elks Lodge 2426.