Bell promoted to major
Jonathan B. Bell, son of the Rev. David and Vickie Bell, of Greenback, was promoted to major in the U.S. Air Force during a pinning ceremony at the Pentagon on May 18. Major Bell is a 1998 graduate of Maryville High School and a 2002 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Bell currently serves as the Joint Security Forces squadron commander at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras. Previous assignments include executive assistant to the inspector general at the Pentagon, two tours of duty in Kuwait, one tour of duty to Iraq and an assignment to Kyrgyzstan. He recently earned a master’s degree in homeland security from the American Military University in Virginia.
Bell has been awarded two Air Force Meritorious Service Medals, two Air Force Commendation Medals, an Army Commendation Medal, an Air Force Achievement Medal and an Army Achievement Medal.
He is married to Debra Burdue Bell and they have three children — Jason, 4, Stephen, 3 and Anna, 15 months. A highlight of the pinning ceremony was a spontaneous rendition of “Old McDonald Had a Farm,” by Stephen.
