Charles Cooper II
Born1967 (age 56–57)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1989–present
RankVice Admiral
Commands heldUnited States Naval Forces Central Command
United States Fifth Fleet
Naval Surface Forces Atlantic
Expeditionary Strike Group 7
United States Naval Forces Korea
USS Gettysburg (CG-64)
USS Russell (DDG-59)
Battles/warsGulf War
War in Afghanistan
AwardsNavy Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (4)
Bronze Star Medal
Alma materUnited 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]
Vice Admiral Cooper at a change of command ceremony for United States Naval Forces Central Command on May 5, 2021

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

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

Bronze oak leaf cluster
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Silver star
Silver block letter O
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Silver star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Charles B. Cooper II.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government.

  1. ^ "White House Author – Brad Cooper". November 18, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Burylo, Rebecca (January 23, 2017). "Lanier grad promoted to rear admiral". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  3. ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1990. p. 180. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  4. ^ "Vice Admiral Brad Cooper". Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  5. ^ "NAVCENT, U.S. Fifth Fleet, CMF Change of Command". U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. May 6, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Rear Admiral Charles Cooper II". www.navy.mil. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  7. ^ "Flag Officer Announcements". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
  8. ^ Lee Chi-dong (July 19, 2017). "U.S. naval commander to get Korean name". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  9. ^ "PN545 — Vice Adm. Charles B. Cooper II — Navy". U.S. Congress. April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  10. ^ "Flag Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
Military offices Preceded byJames W. Kilby Commanding Officer of USS Russell (DDG-59) 2007–2008 Succeeded byJeff D. Weston Preceded byRobert N. Hein Commanding Officer of USS Gettysburg (CG-64) 2013–2015 Succeeded byJohn Schmidt Preceded byWilliam D. Byrne Jr. Commander of United States Naval Forces Korea 2016–2018 Succeeded byMichael E. Boyle Preceded byMarvin Thompson Commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 7 2018–2019 Succeeded byFred W. Kacher Preceded byJames T. Loeblein Chief of Legislative Affairs of the United States Navy 2019–2020 Succeeded bySara A. Joyner Preceded byRoy Kitchener Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic 2020–2021 Succeeded byBrendan McLane Preceded bySamuel Paparo Commander of the United States Naval Forces Central Command 2021–present Incumbent


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