Sergeant Major Tiphany Clugston enlisted in the Marine Corps in November 2003, and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon graduating as the Platoon Honor Graduate, she was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Private First Class and reported for Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, North Carolina. Private First Class Clugston was assigned the military occupational specialty of 5811 and reported to Military Police School in Fort Leonardwood, Missouri.
Upon completion of Military Police (MP) School, Private First Class Clugston was selected to attend additional training at the Military Working Dog (MWD) School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. She was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal in September 2004 and reported to Security Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and served as an MWD Handler for MP Company. During this assignment, Lance Corporal Clugston was temporarily assigned to 2d Military Police Battalion in April 2005 and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where she served as an MWD Handler in Fallujah and Ramadi and was meritoriously (combat) promoted to the rank of Corporal in November 2005. Corporal Clugston deployed again in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in April 2006 while temporarily assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force as an MWD Handler in Fallujah and Ramadi and she was meritoriously (combat) promoted to the rank of Sergeant in November 2006. In August 2007, Sergeant Clugston was deployed for the third time in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom while temporarily attached to 1st Battalion 10th Marines and served as an MWD Handler and Kennel Master in Al Taquddum and Habbaniyah.
In August 2008, Sergeant Clugston was transferred to Marine Corps Detachment, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas to serve as a Department of Defense MWD Trainer, Uniformed Victim Advocate and MWD Master Trainer for the 341st Training Squadron. She was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant in December 2011 and transferred to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina. During this assignment, she served as the Provost Marshal's Office (PMO) Kennel Master, Accident Investigation Special Events SNCOIC, and Equal Opportunity Representative (EOR). In December 2014 Staff Sergeant Clugston was transferred to 3d Law Enforcement Battalion, Okinawa Japan and served as the MWD Chief Trainer and Kennel Master. She was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant in October 2016 and transferred to MP Company A, and served as a Platoon Sergeant, Company Gunnery Sergeant, and EOR.
In January 2018, Gunnery Sergeant Clugston was transferred to Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms California as the Operations Chief for the PMO Services Department. In February 2020 she was promoted to First Sergeant and transferred to Combat Logistics Battalion to serve as the Company First Sergeant for Motor Transportation Company and deployed in support of Marine Rotational Force Darwin, Australia in February 2021.
In February 2022, First Sergeant Clugston was transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona where she served as the Unit Senior Enlisted Leader for Marine Air Control Squadron 1 and Marine Air Support Squadron 3 Air Control Company D. During this tour she was temporarily assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 where she served as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader from September 2023 to April 2024.
In March 2025, First Sergeant Clugston was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major and was transferred to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 502, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California to assume the duties as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader.
Sergeant Major Clugston's personal awards include the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation medal (1 gold star), Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal (1 silver star) and an Army Achievement Medal.