Cory Mills Bio
Cory Lee Mills, born on July 13, 1980, is an American politician, businessman, and Army veteran who has served as the U.S. representative for Florida’s 7th congressional district since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a Trump appointee on the Defense Business Board from 2020 to 2021. Beyond politics, Mills is recognized for his military service and for co-founding several security and risk-management companies operating in the United States and abroad.
After enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1999, Mills served with the 82nd Airborne Division and received a Bronze Star following a 2003 deployment to Iraq. Following his military service, he worked as a contractor and built a business career focused on global risk management and private security. He entered Congress after winning the Republican primary in 2022 and was re-elected in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Cory Lee Mills was born on July 13, 1980, in Winter Haven, Florida, to Teresa (née Pearson) and Christopher Mills. He grew up in Central Florida, in a region shaped by military communities and a strong tradition of public service. These early surroundings influenced his later decision to enlist in the United States Army straight out of his teenage years.
Mills pursued higher education while building his military and professional credentials. He earned an Associate of Arts degree in liberal arts and sciences from Florida State College at Jacksonville. He later completed a Bachelor of Science degree in health sciences, followed by a Master of Arts in international relations and conflict resolution from American Military University. This academic training complemented his military experience and laid the groundwork for his later work in international security and risk management.
Path to US Politics
Mills’s transition into national politics followed years of military service and a successful business career in the private sector. In December 2020, President Donald Trump appointed him to the Defense Business Board, a federal advisory panel that provides independent guidance to senior leaders of the U.S. Department of Defense. Mills resigned from the board in February 2021 at the request of President Joe Biden, who directed a broad reset of Pentagon advisory panels.
In April 2021, Mills announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida’s 7th congressional district, initially challenging incumbent Democratic representative Stephanie Murphy. Following redistricting and Murphy’s retirement announcement, the seat became a key Republican target. Mills positioned himself as a conservative outsider with military credentials and private-sector experience, a profile that resonated with the district’s shifting electorate.
Cory Mills Career
Military Service (1999–2003)
From 1999 to 2003, Mills served in the United States Army as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division. In 1999, he took part in Operation Allied Force during the Kosovo War, an experience that sharpened his understanding of modern military operations and international conflict. He was later deployed to Iraq in 2003, where he served as a U.S. Army sniper.
During his Iraq deployment, Mills received the Bronze Star Medal for actions credited with saving the lives of two fellow soldiers and for additional service under fire. His military record became a central element of his public identity and political brand. The award has, however, been the subject of later reporting and review.
Business Career (2005–2021)
After leaving active duty, Mills worked as a military contractor for DynCorp from 2005 to 2009, with assignments in Iraq and Afghanistan. He later served as a maritime security specialist and anti-piracy adviser for Special Tactical Services, and held roles with federal contractors Chemonics International, Pax Mondial Ltd., and Management Systems International. These positions gave him broad exposure to overseas security operations and federal contracting.
In 2014, Mills co-founded PACEM Solutions International LLC, a risk-management and consulting firm, and in 2015 co-founded PACEM Defense, a private security company. In 2015, the United States Department of Defense facilitated a $228 million arms deal between PACEM and the government of Iraq. He is also co-founder of ALS Less-Lethal Systems, a manufacturer of equipment for military and law enforcement clients. In December 2020, President Donald Trump appointed Mills to the Defense Business Board.
Republican Era (2022–Present)
In 2022, Mills won a crowded Republican primary for Florida’s 7th congressional district, defeating state representative Anthony Sabatini and six other candidates by earning more than a third of the vote. He went on to defeat Democratic nominee Karen Green in the November general election with 58.5% of the vote, flipping the seat for the Republican Party.
Mills was re-elected in 2024 after defeating former state senate candidate Mike Johnson in the Republican primary with 80.9% of the vote. He then defeated Democratic nominee Jennifer Adams in the general election, receiving 56.5% of the vote. In Congress, he has co-sponsored impeachment resolutions, voted to direct the removal of U.S. troops from Syria, and engaged in international diplomatic activity, including a 2025 visit to post-Ba’athist Syria alongside Representative Marlin Stutzman.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Mills’s most prominent actions in office was helping evacuate 77 Americans from Israel following the October 7, 2023 attacks, and airlifting 10 Americans volunteering at an orphanage in Haiti. He became the fourth Florida representative to endorse Donald Trump for president in 2024, citing the need for Republican unity following Trump’s indictment. In 2025, Mills and Stutzman were the first American politicians to visit post-Ba’athist Syria, where they met Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa and the country’s Christian leaders.
Cory Mills Career Wins
Cory Mills has compiled a steady record of electoral victories since entering Congress. He has won one Republican primary, one general election, a re-election primary, and a second general election, building a durable hold on Florida’s 7th congressional district. His wins reflect both the district’s Republican shift and his personal appeal as a military veteran and businessman.
Congressional Election Highlights
Mills first won the Republican primary for Florida’s 7th congressional district in August 2022, earning more than a third of the vote and beating his closest rival by over 10,000 votes. He then won the November 2022 general election with 58.5% of the vote against Karen Green. In 2024, Mills secured the Republican primary with 80.9% of the vote before winning the general election against Jennifer Adams with 56.5% of the vote.
Other Achievements
Beyond electoral wins, Mills was appointed by President Donald Trump to the Defense Business Board in December 2020, an advisory role reserved for individuals with significant defense and business expertise. His co-founding of PACEM Solutions International LLC, PACEM Defense, and ALS Less-Lethal Systems also marked his rise as a notable entrepreneur in the U.S. security industry.
Cory Mills Family
Family Background and Personal Lineage
Cory Lee Mills was born to Teresa (née Pearson) and Christopher Mills in Winter Haven, Florida. His upbringing in Central Florida shaped his early worldview and contributed to his decision to pursue a career in the U.S. military. Details about his parents’ careers and broader family history are limited in publicly verified sources.
Personal Life
Mills is married to Rana Al Saadi, an Iraqi refugee who became a naturalized American citizen and served in the first Trump administration. The couple married in 2014, and Mills has two sons. In a May 2025 interview with Blaze Media, Mills stated that he and Saadi had been separated for three years and undergoing divorce proceedings for two and a half years. Mills has also resided in a luxury penthouse on Maryland Avenue SW in Washington, D.C.