Charles Cooper II

Last updated

Charles Cooper II
VADM Charles B. Cooper II (3).jpg
Born1967 (age 5758)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branch United States Navy
Years of service1989–present
Rank Vice Admiral
Commands United States Naval Forces Central Command
United States Fifth Fleet
Naval Surface Force Atlantic
Expeditionary Strike Group 7
United States Naval Forces Korea
USS Gettysburg (CG-64)
USS Russell (DDG-59)
Battles / wars Gulf War
War in Afghanistan
Awards Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (4)
Bronze Star Medal
Alma mater United States Naval Academy (BS)
National Intelligence University (MS)
United States Army Command and General Staff College
Harvard University
Tufts University
Spouse(s)Susan Cooper [1]

Charles Bradford "Brad" Cooper II [2] (born 1967) [3] is a United States Navy vice admiral who has served as the deputy commander of United States Central Command since February 2024. He most recently served as commander of United States Naval Forces Central Command, Commander, United States Fifth Fleet and Commander, Combined Maritime Forces from 2021 to 2024. [4] [5] He previously served as Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic and, before that, as the Chief of Legislative Affairs of the United States Navy. [6] [7]

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Cooper attended Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama. He is a 1989 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. [2] Cooper later earned a master's degree in strategic intelligence from the National Intelligence University. [6] During his tenure as commander of Naval Forces Korea, Cooper was bestowed the Korean name Goo Tae-il [a] by the ROK-US Alliance Friendship Association in honor of his service to the Korean peninsula. [8]

In April 2023, Cooper was nominated for reappointment as vice admiral and assignment as the deputy commander of United States Central Command. [9] [10]

Awards and decorations

Surface Warfare Officer Insignia.png
Navy Distinguished Service ribbon.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg
Bronze Star ribbon.svg Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg
Joint Service Achievement Medal ribbon.svg Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (USMC and USN frame).svg
U.S. Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Silver-service-star-3d.svg
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Operational Distinguishing Device.png
Meritorious Team Commendation ribbon.svg
Battle Effectiveness Award ribbon, 4th award.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Afghanistan Campaign ribbon.svg
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Korea Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon.svg
Humanitarian Service Medal ribbon.svg Outstanding Volunteer Service ribbon.svg
Silver-service-star-3d.svg
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon.svg
U.S. Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon.svg Cooper unidentified ribbon.png
Cheon-Su Security Medal Ribbon.png NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg U.S. Navy Expert Rifleman Ribbon.svg United States Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon with expert device.svg
Navy CaS.png
Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge.png
US - Presidential Service Badge.png
Surface Warfare Officer Pin
Navy Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with three gold award stars Bronze Star Medal Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four award stars Joint Service Commendation Medal Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with four award stars
Joint Service Achievement Medal Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal Joint Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Navy Unit Commendation Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with one silver service star Meritorious Team Commendation with Operational Distinguishing Device
Navy "E" Ribbon with wreathed Battle E device National Defense Service Medal with service star Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two service stars Afghanistan Campaign Medal with service star Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Korea Defense Service Medal Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver service star
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with three service stars Special Operations Service Ribbon Unidentified foreign award
Order of National Security Merit, Cheonsu Medal (Republic of Korea) NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) Navy Expert Rifleman Medal Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal
Command at Sea insignia
Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
Presidential Service Badge

Notes

  1. In this Korean name, the family name is Goo .

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States government .

  1. "White House Author – Brad Cooper". 18 November 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  2. 1 2 Burylo, Rebecca (23 January 2017). "Lanier grad promoted to rear admiral". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  3. Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 1 October 1990. p. 180. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  4. "Vice Admiral Brad Cooper" . Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  5. "NAVCENT, U.S. Fifth Fleet, CMF Change of Command". U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. 6 May 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Rear Admiral Charles Cooper II". www.navy.mil. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  7. "Flag Officer Announcements". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
  8. Lee Chi-dong (19 July 2017). "U.S. naval commander to get Korean name". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  9. "PN545 — Vice Adm. Charles B. Cooper II — Navy". U.S. Congress. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  10. "Flag Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
Military offices
Preceded by Commanding Officer of USS Russell (DDG-59)
2007–2008
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commanding Officer of USS Gettysburg (CG-64)
2013–2015
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of United States Naval Forces Korea
2016–2018
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 7
2018–2019
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of Legislative Affairs of the United States Navy
2019–2020
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic
2020–2021
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the United States Naval Forces Central Command
2021–2024
Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Commander of the United States Central Command
2024–present
Incumbent