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LTC Cory S. Florence, a native of Bainbridge, Georgia, enlisted into the Army June 1990 as a Stinger Manpads Crewmember and completed Basic Training and AIT at Fort Bliss, Texas. Florence is the son of Mr. Louis C. Coleman, Jr. and the late Mrs. Barbara Florence, and the brother of Linda Corey. He is the grandson of Mr. Ray and Mrs. Annette Jones and the late Mr. Louis C. Coleman, Sr. and Mrs. Rosa Lee Coleman. Following completion of Airborne School, he deployed with 2nd Armored Division (Forward), Garlstedt, Germany, December 1990 in support of Desert Shield/Storm. L TC Florence was next assigned to 82nd ABN Div 3rd Battalion, 4th Regiment ADAR serving as’ a Stinger/Avenger Squad Leader and Platoon Sergeant until he reclassed to Motor Transport Operator (88M) in June 1996. He served in D Co 782 Main Support Battalion and United States Army Special Operations Command as a Motor Transport Operator until March 2001. After promotion to SFC, LTC Florence was commissioned th,ough Officer Candidate School at Ft. Moore, GA as a CBRN Officer in December 2005. Following completion of the Chemical Officer Basic Course, he was assigned to 4th Chemical Company, 2ID as the Smoke Platoon Leader. Following degree completion with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Methodist University in Fayetteville NC, L TC Florence was assigned to 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), 2ID serving as a Brigade CBRN Officer in March 2008. He later commanded Echo Company 3-2 General Support Aviation Battalion, 2nd CAB from July 2009 until Sept 2010. following command, L TC Florence completed the Chemical Captain Career Course in May 2011 and earned a Master’s Degree in Environmental Management from Webster University, MO. In July 2011, L TC Florence was assigned HHC, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), AK and immediately deployed as a Brigade Battle Captain from December 2011 until October 2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon redeployment L TC Florence was selected to command Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, U.S. Army Alaska from January 2014 to May 2015. He completed the Command and General Staff College June 2016 at Fort Leavenworth, KS, and was assigned to the Mission Command Training Program serving as a Scenario Designer. Following his assignment at Fort Leavenworth, he was assigned to HHBN 82nd ABN Division June 2017 as a Division CBRN planner and Deputy Division CBRN Officer. L TC Florence served as the Battalion Executive Officer for HHBN 82nd ABN Div from June 2019 until June 2020. He served as the Chief df Training, CBRN Chief and Commander’s Action Group for Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) Region at JBER from 2020 until present.

L TC Florence’s military education includes Primary Leadership Developmental Course (Commandants list), BNCOC (Distinguished Honor Graduate), Officer Candidate School (Distinguished Honor Graduate), Chemical Officer Basic Course, Chemical Captain Career Course, and Command and General Staff College.

LTC Florence’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3rd Award), Army Commendation Medal (6th Award), Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (4th Award), National Defense Service Medal (3rd Award), Southwest Asia Service Medal (2nd Award), Afghan Campaign Medal, GWOT Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (2nd Award), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd Award), Kuwait Liberation Medal, NATO Medal, Saudi Arabia Kuwait Liberation Medal, Master Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge.

L TC Florence and his wife Michelle have been married for over 27 years and have four children, Daniel (32), Cory Jr (27), Ciara (25), and Kaelyn (15).