Since 2016, U.S. Navy veteran Dale Bell, a Georgia resident and state veterans benefit expert for over a decade, has supervised 31 of the Georgia Department of Veterans Service’s 50 field offices as Director of Veterans Benefits North Region.

“Dale Bell is an outstanding advocate for Georgia’s veterans,” said GDVS Commissioner Mike Roby. “His many years of experience as a veterans service officer and office manager make him an exceptional choice to lead our north regional offices.”

Bell began his military career in 1980 out of high school when he joined the Air Force. He transferred to the Navy in 1985 and served as a Chapel Manager/Religious Program Specialist for 13 years. Along with earning Good Conduct Medals in both the Air Force and Navy, Bell’s more prominent decorations included the Navy Meritorious Service Medal and a recognition award/medal for outstanding service during an assignment in support to NATO.

After leaving active (Navy) duty in 1998, Bell joined the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs as a Veterans Assistance Counselor. His assignments include East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Livingston, and St. Helena Parish Field Offices.

Bell, a former psychology major at the University of Georgia, began his career with the GDVS in 2001 as manager of the Hartwell Field Service Office. In 2003, he moved to the Athens field office as that location’s primary benefits counselor taking over as office manager there in the April 2005. In early 2016, Commissioner Roby selected Bell as Director of Veterans Benefits North Region.

Bell currently resides in Madison County. He has three daughters and five grandchildren.

Offices in the north region include Athens, Augusta (2), Blairsville, Canton, Carrollton, Cartersville, Cedartown, Clarkesville, Conyers, Dalton, Decatur (2), Elberton, Fort McPherson, Gainesville, Greensboro, Griffin, Hartwell, LaFayette, LaGrange, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milledgeville, Newnan, Oakwood, Rome, Toccoa, Washington, and Waynesboro.

Pictured from left: GDVS Commissioner Mike Roby, Director of Benefits North Region Dale Bell, and Assistant Commissioner George Canavaggio.

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For more information on the content of this news release, please contact the GDVS Public Information Division at 404-656-5933 or [email protected].