Maj. Cory J. Bell joined Jacksonville District as the Deputy District Commander for South Florida, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in August 2023.

He oversees the planning, construction, and operations of Corps projects in central and south Florida. Prior to assignment with Jacksonville District, Maj. Bell served as the Brigade Executive Officer and Operations Officer for Area Support Group - Kuwait. Before that, he was assigned as a Project Engineer at Fort Gordon, within South Atlantic Division’s Savannah District, where he led Cyber Transformation and Sustainment, Renovation and Modernization (SRM) projects for the garrison, signal, and cyber schools.

He served two combat tours in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom – first as a Company Executive Officer for 595^th Sapper Company deployed to Kandahar Province in 2010, then as an Executive Officer for 40^th Mobility Augmentation Company deployed to Ghazni Province in 2012.

Bell’s prior assignments include Platoon and Company Observer Controller and Trainer with Task Force 5 at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC), Fort Polk, Louisiana, 2014-2015, Task Force Engineer and Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander with 1-64 Armor, Fort Stewart, 2015-2018, where he conducted operational deployments to Europe and South Korea. Platoon Leader, 595th Sapper Company, 2^nd Engineer Battalion, 36^th Engineer Brigade at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

Bell received his commission as an Engineer Officer in 2010 from Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning, Georgia. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida and a Master’s of Science in Engineer Management from the Missouri University of Science and Technology. His military education includes the Engineer Officer Basic and Captains’ Career Courses, Command and General Staff Officer College, and Airborne course. He is a registered Project Management Professional.

His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Service Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral three, NATO Article 5 Ribbon, National Defense Service Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Ribbon, Korean Defense Service Medal. Unit awards include: Presidential, Valorous, Meritorious, and Superior Unit Citations, the Combat Action Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. He has been awarded the Order of the Gold Spur, Steel Order of the de Fleury Medal (Engineer), and the Order of Saint George (Armor).

Bell is a native of Gainesville, Florida.