Cory Dunlap began his career in the United States Marine Corps, where he served in the infantry, leading Marines in combat operations in both invasions of Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003. As his eight-year active duty service was coming to completion, he accepted a position in the Civil Service under Marine Corps Training and Education Command, where he continued to serve his country and the Marine Corps for 10 additional years.  It was in these first 18 years that Dunlap's passion for training and education began to cultivate, as well as his passion for government service. In 2015, Dunlap left the Marine Corps and accepted the position of training administrator for the Grand Coulee Power Office under the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation.