Cory Mills

Last updated

Cory Mills
Representative Cory Mills Cropped Portrait.jpg
Member of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives
from Florida's 7th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byAtul Vashisitha
Succeeded by Joseph Votel
Personal details
Born
Cory Lee Mills

(1980-07-13) July 13, 1980 (age 44)
Winter Haven, Florida, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse
Rana Al Saadi
​
(m. 2014)​
Children2
Residence New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Education Florida State College at Jacksonville (AA)
American Military University (BS, MA)
Occupation
  • Politician
  • businessman
  • soldier
  • defense contractor
Website House website
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1999–2003
Rank Sergeant
Unit 82nd Airborne Division
Battles/wars Yugoslav Wars
Iraq War
Awards Bronze Star Medal

Cory Lee Mills (born July 13, 1980) is an American politician, businessman, and Army combat veteran who has served as the U.S. representative from Florida's 7th congressional district since 2023. He previously served as a Trump appointee on the Defense Business Board from 2020 to 2021. [1] He is a member of the Republican Party.

Contents

Mills received the Bronze Star while serving as a U.S. Army sniper during a combat deployment to Iraq in 2003. [2]

In 2022, Mills defeated state representative Anthony Sabatini and six others in the Republican primary for Florida's 7th congressional district. He went on to defeat Vice Chair of the Florida Democratic Party Karen Green in the general election. He was re-elected in 2024. [3] Mills has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Senator Marco Rubio upon his confirmation as Secretary of State and resignation from the Senate. [4]

Early life and education

Cory Lee Mills was born on July 13, 1980, in Winter Haven, Florida, the son of Teresa (née Pearson) and Christopher Mills. [5] 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. [6]

Career and military service

Mills on deployment to Iraq Cory Mills in military uniform.jpg
Mills on deployment to Iraq

From 1999 to 2003, Mills served in the United States Army, where he was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division. He took part in Task Force Falcon; providing support for Operation Allied Force during the Kosovo War in 1999. Mills was deployed to Iraq in 2003 and received the Bronze Star Medal for his actions. [7] From 2005 to 2009, he worked as a military contractor for DynCorp, where he was employed overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan before working as a maritime security specialist and anti-piracy adviser for Special Tactical Services. From 2010 to 2011, Mills worked as a security manager for Chemonics and then as a senior risk manager at Management Systems International. [8] Mills joined Pax Mondial LLC in 2011 and later worked as the organization's director of the information operations division and senior vice president. [9]

In 2014, Mills co-founded PACEM Solutions International LLC, a risk management and consulting firm. The following year, he co-founded PACEM Defense, a private security company. [10] In 2015, the United States Department of Defense facilitated a $228 million arms deal between PACEM and the government of Iraq. As of 2023, PACEM is indebted $48 million to a Canadian lender and has been forced to close its munitions plant twice by the Florida Department of Financial Services for failing to pay workers' compensation insurance premiums. [8] He is also co-founder of ALS Less-Lethal Systems, a company that manufactures equipment for military and law enforcement clients. [11]

In December 2020, Mills was appointed to the Defense Business Board, an advisory board established to provide independent advice, which reflects an outside private sector perspective, on best business practices for application to the Defense Department. [12] [13] In February 2021, President Joe Biden ordered Secretary Lloyd Austin to suspend all members of the Pentagon's advisory boards, including the DBB, and request all Trump appointees step down, permanently. [14] He was succeeded by former SOCOM commander General Joseph Votel. [15]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2022

Mills announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida's 7th district in April 2021, challenging incumbent Democratic representative Stephanie Murphy. [16] Murphy's seat was a target for the National Republican Congressional Committee in the 2022 elections, but she announced her retirement in December 2021. [17] 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. [18] Mills defeated Democratic nominee Karen Green in the November general election with 58.5% of the vote. [19]

Evacuation of an American family from Afghanistan

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. [20]

Tenure

Mills handed out commemorative 40 mm grenades stamped with the Republican Party logo to fellow House members as a welcoming gift. [21]

In October 2023, Mills traveled to Israel to help evacuate 77 Americans in the wake of the Hamas October 7 Massacre. [22]

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. [23] Later, he helped rescue an additional 13 people. [24]

Syria

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. [25] [26]

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. [27] On May 23, 2023, he also co-sponsored Greene's resolutions to impeach Attorney General Merrick Garland, [28] FBI director Christopher Wray, [29] Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, [30] and U.S. attorney for D.C. Matthew M. Graves. [31]

2024 presidential election

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. [32]

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

Mills was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House. [33]

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress: [34]

Electoral history

2022 Florida's 7th congressional district Republican primary [35]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Cory Mills 27,452 38.06
Republican Anthony Sabatini 17,05923.65
Republican Brady Duke11,01015.26
Republican Ted Edwards4,1975.82
Republican Russell Roberts3,9705.50
Republican Erika Benfield3,9125.42
Republican Scott Sturgill3,0554.24
Republican Al Santos1,4802.05
Total votes72,135 100.00
2022 Florida's 7th congressional district election [36]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Cory Mills 177,966 58.53
Democratic Karen Green126,07941.47
Write-in Cardon Pompey100.00
Total votes304,045 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic
2024 Florida's 7th congressional district Republican primary [37]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Cory Mills (incumbent) 43,096 80.09
Republican Mike Johnson10,18819.1
Total votes53,284 100.00
2024 Florida's 7th congressional district election [38]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Cory Mills (incumbent) 233,937 56.5
Democratic Jennifer Adams179,91743.5
Total votes413,854 100.00
Republican hold

Personal life

Mills is a religious Catholic. He is married to his wife Rana Al Saadi, an Iraqi refugee who gained naturalized American citizenship and served in the first Trump administration. [39] They were married at the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia, by Sheikh Mohammed Al-Hanooti in 2014. They have a son together and live in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. [40] Mills has a second son. [41]

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References

  1. ↑ "GOP hopeful sold tear gas used on Black Lives Matter protesters". POLITICO. April 14, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  2. ↑ Harper, Mark. "With Congressman Cory Mills facing accusations of stolen valor, Army confirms medals". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  3. ↑ Harper, Mark. "Republicans Rick Scott, Michael Waltz, Cory Mills vanquish Democratic challengers". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  4. ↑ Manjarres, Javier (November 14, 2024). "Cory Mills Floated as Potential Senate Replacement for Marco Rubio". floridianpress.com. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Florida New Members 2023". November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  6. ↑ Powers, Scott (April 12, 2021). "Veteran, defense consultant Cory Mills files to run in CD 7". Florida Politics . Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  7. ↑ Harper, Mark. "With Congressman Cory Mills facing accusations of stolen valor, Army confirms medals". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Newsham, Jack; Long, Katherine; Metzger, Bryan; Haroun, Azmi (March 28, 2023). "Rep. Cory Mills founded a company that sells arms to foreign governments. He won't say which ones". Business Insider . Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  9. ↑ "PACEM Solutions International Announces Cory Mills As Executive Chairman And Rana Al Saadi As Executive Vice Chairman". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  10. ↑ Harper, Mark (October 12, 2023). "U.S. Rep. Cory Mills helps 77 Americans exit Israel, says he plans to go back for more". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  11. ↑ "GOP hopeful sold tear gas used on Black Lives Matter protesters". POLITICO. April 14, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Statement on New Appointments to the Defense Business Board". defense.gov. December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  13. ↑ Mehta, Aaron (December 4, 2020). "Defense Business Board members replaced with Trump loyalists". Defense News. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  14. ↑ Ryan, Missy; Lamothe, Dan (February 2, 2021). "Pentagon suspends work of advisory boards after flurry of last-minute Trump appointments". The Washington Post . Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  15. ↑ Weisgerber, Marcus (September 29, 2021). "Defense Business Board Relaunches After Pentagon Review". Defense One. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  16. ↑ Mutnick, Ally (April 9, 2021). "Republicans draft veteran candidates to reclaim House majority". Politico . Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  17. ↑ Ferris, Sarah (December 20, 2021). "Murphy, a leader of House Dem centrists, won't seek reelection". Politico.
  18. ↑ "Alert: Cory Mills wins Republican nomination for U.S. House in Florida's 7th Congressional District". SFGATE. August 24, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  19. ↑ Zizo, Christie (November 8, 2022). "Cory Mills defeats Karen Green for U.S. House District 7 seat". WKMG-TV . Orlando, Florida.
  20. ↑ Ogles, Jacob (September 7, 2021). "Cory Mills evacuates Americans from Afghanistan, says Joe Biden admin wrongly wants credit". Florida Politics . Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  21. ↑ "A Florida GOP congressman sent his colleagues inert grenades as a welcome gift to the House". Business Insider . January 26, 2023.
  22. ↑ Sforza, Lauren; Brooks, Emily (October 11, 2023). "GOP lawmaker helps evacuate Americans in Israel". The Hill . Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  23. ↑ Aitken, Peter (March 12, 2024). "Congressman evacuates 10 Americans from crime-ravaged Haiti, slams Biden for 'pattern of abandonment'". Fox News. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  24. ↑ Valencia, Jamel | The National (March 18, 2024). "Florida congressman rescues Americans from Haiti amid growing violence". WTVC. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  25. ↑ "H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … -- House Vote #136 -- Mar 8, 2023".
  26. ↑ "House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria". US News & World Report. March 8, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  27. ↑ "H.Res.420 - Impeaching Joseph Robinette Biden, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors". May 25, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  28. ↑ "H.Res.410 - Impeaching Merrick Brian Garland, Attorney General of the United States, for facilitating the weaponization and politicization of the United States justice system against the American people". Congress.gov. United States Congress. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  29. ↑ "H.Res.406 - Impeaching Christopher Asher Wray, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, for facilitating the development of a Federal police force to intimidate, harass, and entrap American citizens that are deemed enemies of the Biden regime". Congress.gov. United States Congress. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  30. ↑ "H.Res.411 - Impeaching Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, for high crimes and misdemeanors". Congress.gov. United States Congress. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  31. ↑ "H.Res.405 - Impeaching Matthew M. Graves, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, for endangering, compromising, and undermining the justice system of the United States by facilitating the explosion of violent crime in the Nation's capital". Congress.gov. United States Congress.
  32. ↑ "Exclusive: Florida GOP Congressman Backs Trump for President". April 10, 2023.
  33. ↑ Gans, Jared (May 31, 2023). "Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no". The Hill . Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Cory Mills". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Florida's 7th Congressional district election". Ballotpedia. Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  36. ↑ "Florida 2022 live election results". Reuters. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  37. ↑ "Florida 7th Congressional District Primary Election Results". The New York Times . Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  38. ↑ "Florida Seventh Congressional District Election Results". The New York Times . Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  39. ↑ Bakich, Gavin (August 16, 2022). "Bigotry Appears to Rear Head in Contentious Florida Republican Primary Race". floridianpress.com. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  40. ↑ "Cory Mills". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  41. ↑ "Florida New Members 2023". The Hill . November 17, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 7th congressional district
2023–present		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
400th		Succeeded by
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