| Cory Mills | |
| State: | Florida |
| Term Start: | January 3, 2023 |
| Predecessor: | Stephanie Murphy |
| Birth Date: | 13 July 1980 |
| Birth Place: | Winter Haven, Florida, U.S. |
| Party: | Republican |
| Education: | Florida State College at Jacksonville (AA) American Military University (BS, MA) |
| Branch: | United States Army |
| Serviceyears: | 1999–2004 |
| Unit: | 82nd Airborne Division |
| Battles: | Iraq War |
Cory Mills (born July 13, 1980) is an American businessman, defense contractor, and politician who is a member of the United States House of Representatives for since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he worked in various organizations as a security specialist and a business executive before being elected to Congress in 2022.
Cory Mills was born on July 13, 1980,[1] in Winter Haven, Florida. He earned an associate of arts degree in liberal arts and sciences from Florida State College at Jacksonville, followed by a Bachelor of Science degree in health sciences and a Master of Arts in international relations and conflict resolution from American Military University.[2]
From 1999 to 2004, Mills served in the United States Army, where he was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division. From 2005 to 2009, he was a security specialist for DynCorp. In 2010, he worked as a maritime security specialist and anti-piracy adviser for Special Tactical Services. Mills worked as a security manager for Chemonics from 2010 to 2011 and as a senior risk manager at Management Systems International in 2011. Cory Mills was employed overseas as a civilian defense contractor.
He joined Pax Mondial LLC in 2011 and later worked as the organization's director of the information operations division and senior vice president.[3]
In 2020 and 2021, Mills served as a member of the Defense Business Board. He is the co-founder of ALS Less-Lethal Systems, a company that manufactures equipment for military and law enforcement clients.[4] He also co-founded and is executive director of PACEM Defense, a private security company.[5]
Mills announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in in April 2021, challenging incumbent Democratic representative Stephanie Murphy.[6] Murphy's seat was a target for the National Republican Congressional Committee in the 2022 elections, but she announced her retirement in December 2021.[7] Mills faced a crowded primary, with his strongest opponent being State Representative Anthony Sabatini. Mills won the primary election in August 2022, earning over a third of the vote and beating Sabatini by over 10,000 votes.[8] Mills defeated Democratic nominee Karen Green in the November general election with 58.5% of the vote.[9]
Mills, as a congressional candidate, in September 2021, evacuated a woman and her three children from Afghanistan during the 2021 American withdrawal. Initially, he was going to attempt to perform an airlift, but U.S. Central Command and the State Department denied the request. Instead, he had to evacuate the family by land.[10]
Mills handed out commemorative 40 mm grenades stamped with the Republican Party logo to fellow House members as a welcoming gift.[11]
In October 2023, Mills traveled to Israel to help evacuate Americans in the wake of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.[12]
Mills also helped airlift 10 Americans who were volunteering at an orphanage in Haiti, amidst Haiti's state of crisis. He also criticized Biden's handling of the crisis and similar crises.[13] Later, he helped rescue an additional 13 people.[14]
In 2023, Mills was among 47 Republicans to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.[15] [16]
In May 2023, Mills co-sponsored a resolution by Marjorie Taylor Greene to impeach President Joe Biden over his handling of security at the United States-Mexico border.[17] On May 23, 2023, he also co-sponsored Greene's resolutions to impeach Attorney General Merrick Garland,[18] FBI Director Christopher Wray,[19] Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas,[20] and U.S. Attorney for D.C. Matthew M. Graves.[21]
Mills became the fourth representative from Florida to endorse Donald Trump for president in the 2024 presidential election, citing the need for Republican unity following Trump's indictment.[22]
Mills was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.[23]
For the 118th Congress:[24]
|-