U.S. Army four-star General B.B. Bell will give a public lecture on Thursday, October 11, at 9:30 a.m. in the UTC University Center auditorium. His topic will be “Security, the Global Economy and You.”
General Bell is very familiar with his subject matter as he currently commands U.S. Forces in Korea, along with the U.S.-Republic of Korea Combined Forces and the United Nations forces.
General Bell is a 1969 graduate of the University of Chattanooga, earning a degree in business administration. He later earned a M.S. in systems management from the University of Southern California.
Immediately prior to his service in Korea, General Bell commanded U.S. Army forces in Europe along with NATO’s Allied Land Component Headquarters in Heidelberg, German.
General Bell returns to Chattanooga as his schedule allows and always tries to include opportunities to speak to students.
“During my time at UC, I loved the university life because it was so focused on the student,” said General Bell. “And I loved that the University of Chattanooga was in the great city of Chattanooga, one of the most appealing and personable cities in America. I think I will retire in Chattanooga.”
General Bell assumed command of the three military organizations in Korea on February 3, 2006. The United States-Republic of Korea Combined Forces Command is the mutual defense treaty military command responsible for combat operations in the region. The United Nations Command, Korea, is responsible for crisis management responses and action within the Demilitarized Zone which continues to divided north and South Korea today. The United States Forces, Korea, is the direct United States chain of command organization responsible for the readiness, training, and welfare of all Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps service members and families assigned to the Korean Peninsula.
Bell is a native of Oak Ridge, Tennessee. His father worked at the Oak Ridge Nuclear Plants. After graduating from high school, Bell enrolled at the University of Chattanooga where he majored in business and participated in ROTC. He married Katie Fields his senior year at UC. Upon graduation in 1969, he was commissioned as an Armor/Tank Office in the U.S. Army, and he has served in the military since.
The Bells have one son, Buck, who was born while they were serving in Germany. His military service has taken Bell to hot spots around the world, including Bosnia, Iraq, Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, and now Korea.
“I had so many wonderful experiences at University of Chattanooga,” said Bell. “As a member of the ROTC Cadet Battalion, I was afforded major leadership training, opportunities and responsibilities that proved very important to my development.”
