Major General Tolar currently serves as the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. A native of New Orleans, Major General Tolar was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1995. He is a 1993 graduate of the University of New Orleans and 1997 graduate of Loyola University College of Law, New Orleans.
Upon completion of Naval Justice School, Major General Tolar served as a civil law attorney with Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, defense counsel with 1st Force Service Support Group, and later as an action officer in the Military Justice Branch and Deputy Branch Head for the Judge Advocate Support Branch, HQMC.
After earning a Master of Laws in International and Operational Law from The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School, Major General Tolar served as Staff Judge Advocate, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, where he deployed to Al Anbar province in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. He deployed in 2009 with the 13th MEU-USS BOXER Amphibious Ready Group in support of operations in the AFRICOM, CENTCOM, and INDOPACOM areas of responsibility.
Major General Tolar later served as Staff Judge Advocate, Marine Corps Recruiting Command; Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, II Marine Expeditionary Force; Branch Head, International and Operational Law, HQMC; Principal Deputy Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff; and Staff Judge Advocate, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific.
From 2021 to 2024, he served as Deputy Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps and Deputy Director, Judge Advocate Division, HQMC, where he assisted the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant in advising the Commandant, supervising the day-to-day functioning of Judge Advocate Division, and managing the Marine Corps legal community.
Major General Tolar served as Staff Judge Advocate, United States Africa Command, from 2024-2025, where he advised the Combatant Commander on all U.S. military operations and activities to protect and advance U.S. national interests in Africa.
Major General Tolar is authorized to wear the Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), Legion of Merit (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), and various unit and campaign awards.