Brad Cooper (admiral)
Vice Admiral Brad Cooper is a distinguished leader whose extensive career in the United States Navy has placed him at the forefront of critical global operations. From commanding warships to leading multinational maritime forces, his journey reflects a deep commitment to national security and strategic innovation. His recent nomination to lead US Central Command further underscores his pivotal role in shaping America's defense posture in a complex world. Admiral Cooper has ascended through diverse command roles, from destroyer captain to leading major naval forces in the Middle East, demonstrating exceptional leadership across various theaters. His career is marked by significant strategic innovations, including pioneering unmanned systems in maritime operations and fostering international partnerships. Cooper's recent nomination to lead US Central Command underscores his profound impact on US defense strategy and regional stability, making him the first Navy admiral in this post since 2008.
AI Summary
Vice Admiral Brad Cooper is a distinguished leader whose extensive career in the United States Navy has placed him at the forefront of critical global operations. From commanding warships to leading multinational maritime forces, his journey reflects a deep commitment to national security and strategic innovation. His recent nomination to lead US Central Command further underscores his pivotal role in shaping America's defense posture in a complex world.
- Admiral Cooper has ascended through diverse command roles, from destroyer captain to leading major naval forces in the Middle East, demonstrating exceptional leadership across various theaters.
- His career is marked by significant strategic innovations, including pioneering unmanned systems in maritime operations and fostering international partnerships.
- Cooper's recent nomination to lead US Central Command underscores his profound impact on US defense strategy and regional stability, making him the first Navy admiral in this post since 2008.
Who is Brad Cooper?
Charles Bradford "Brad" Cooper II, born in 1967, is a Vice Admiral in the United States Navy whose career has consistently placed him at the helm of significant commands. Most recently, he served as the Commander of United States Naval Forces Central Command, Commander of the United States Fifth Fleet, and Commander of Combined Maritime Forces from 2021 to 2024. In these roles, he commanded naval operations across the critical Middle Eastern waters.
Since 2024, Vice Admiral Cooper has served as the Deputy Commander of United States Central Command, or CENTCOM — a unified combatant command responsible for U.S. security interests across 21 nations in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. In a groundbreaking move, he was nominated in June 2025 to become the Commander of CENTCOM, a role not held by a Navy admiral since 2008.
Early Life and Education
Cooper's path into naval service was perhaps influenced by his father, a U.S. Army officer. He graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama, before attending the prestigious United States Naval Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics in 1989.
His dedication to strategic thinking continued throughout his career. Cooper furthered his education by earning a master's degree in strategic intelligence from the National Intelligence University. He also honed his expertise in national security policy and international relations at esteemed institutions like Harvard and Tufts Universities, and is a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College.
A Career Forged at Sea
A true career surface warfare officer, Cooper's early years were spent navigating the world's oceans on a variety of warships. He served on guided-missile cruisers, guided-missile destroyers, massive aircraft carriers, and even amphibious assault ships, gaining invaluable experience in naval operations and command at sea.
His assignments included serving on the USS Thomas S. Gates, and as Operations Officer for both the USS Fitzgerald and USS Anzio. He then stepped up to Executive Officer of the USS Vicksburg, a vital stepping stone to leading his own vessels. Cooper commanded two destroyers: the USS Russell and the USS Gettysburg.
Global Deployments and Critical Missions
Cooper's extensive operational experience spans numerous complex global theaters. He deployed during Operation Desert Storm and participated in three counter-narcotics operations off the coast of South America, demonstrating his involvement in diverse missions from the outset of his career.
His service also included enforcing no-fly zones over Bosnia and Herzegovina, participating in operations leading up to the Kosovo War, and assisting with Haitian migrant operations. Crucially, he completed multiple deployments in the Middle East, including significant on-the-ground duty during the war in Afghanistan.
Strategic Leadership Ashore
Beyond the deckplate, Cooper's career took him to critical strategic posts ashore, including roles within the White House and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He served as a special assistant to the Commander of U.S. Africa Command and held key positions at U.S. Pacific Fleet headquarters, influencing naval strategy on a broader scale.
Notably, he served as the division chief for strategic reform of the Afghan Police and Border Guards, an instrumental role in nation-building efforts within the Combined Security Transition Command. He also acted as the principal U.S. Advisor to the Interior Minister of Afghanistan, engaging directly with foreign leadership during a complex period.
High Command and Innovation
As a flag officer, Cooper served as the Navy's Chief of Legislative Affairs, acting as the primary liaison between the Navy and the U.S. Congress. This role demanded a keen understanding of policy, diplomacy, and strategic communication to advocate for naval interests on Capitol Hill.
He commanded Naval Surface Force Atlantic, where he championed new initiatives to bolster mental health care for sailors and enhance fleet-wide readiness. Later, as Commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 7 in Okinawa, Japan, he led the U.S. military's inaugural deployment of the advanced F-35 Lightning II aircraft, showcasing his commitment to technological advancement.
During his tenure as Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Korea, Cooper forged strong alliances. His sailors were recognized with the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation — the first such honor for a Navy unit since the Korean War. In a unique gesture of appreciation, the ROK-US Alliance Friendship Association bestowed upon him the Korean name Goo Tae-il, a testament to his service to the peninsula.
Leading in a Volatile Region
In 2021, Cooper was nominated for promotion to Vice Admiral and assumed command of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, the U.S. Fifth Fleet, and the Combined Maritime Forces, all based in Bahrain. This pivotal role placed him in charge of U.S. naval operations across the Middle East, a region of immense strategic importance and frequent tension.
Under his leadership, Cooper significantly expanded multinational maritime partnerships, fostering collaboration among allied navies. He also spearheaded innovation by establishing the Navy's first unmanned and artificial intelligence Task Force, pushing the boundaries of naval capabilities in the region.
His command was instrumental in countering malign activities by Iran and Houthi forces throughout the Middle East. He famously led operations like Prosperity Guardian and Poseidon Archer in the southern Red Sea, defending merchant ships from Houthi attacks originating from Yemen, highlighting the immediate and critical nature of his command.
Reflecting on these operations, Cooper told the media that the actions against the Houthis represented the largest and most intense operation of the U.S. Navy since World War II — a powerful statement underscoring the scale and significance of his responsibilities.
Shaping Future Strategy
In April 2023, Cooper was nominated for reappointment as vice admiral and assignment as Deputy Commander of United States Central Command, taking office in February 2024. This role further expanded his influence over U.S. military strategy across the vast CENTCOM area of responsibility.
His nomination in June 2025 to lead CENTCOM signifies a crucial moment for U.S. defense. At his nomination hearing, Cooper articulated a clear stance on maintaining a U.S. military presence in Syria to counter the Islamic State, and advocated for collaboration with the Syrian transitional government to achieve this vital objective.
Personal Life and Recognition
Brad Cooper is married to Susan, a dedicated speech-language pathologist, and together they have two children. He also briefly served as a fellow of the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, reflecting his commitment to intellectual engagement and regional security dialogue.
Awards and Decorations
Vice Admiral Cooper's long and distinguished career is further recognized by an impressive array of awards and decorations, acknowledging his valor, leadership, and service across numerous deployments and commands.
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
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Brad Cooper (admiral)
Charles Bradford Cooper II (born 1967) is an American admiral who has served as the commander of the United States Central Command since 2025. He most recently served as its deputy commander from 2024 to 2025, and before that was commander of the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. Fifth Fleet, and Combined Maritime Forces from 2021 to 2024. He has led U.S. forces in combat operations during the Red Sea crisis and the 2026 Iran war.
Cooper graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1989. A career surface warfare officer, his commands included a destroyer, a cruiser, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, and Expeditionary Strike Group 7. He has been deployed during combat operations in the Gulf War and the lead-up to the Iraq War; the Yugoslav Wars; and the war in Afghanistan. Cooper served in the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan while an advisor to the Afghan government, the Navy Personnel Command, U.S. Africa Command, and the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Other senior posts that he held include Chief of Legislative Affairs of the United States Navy from 2019 to 2020 and Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic, from 2020 to 2021.
In June 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that Cooper was President Donald Trump's nominee for commander of the United States Central Command. Cooper is the first Navy admiral to hold the post since William J. Fallon in 2008.
Early life and education
Brad Cooper (admiral)
Charles Bradford Cooper II was born in 1967 and is the son of a U.S. Army officer. He attended Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama, and is a 1989 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where he obtained a bachelor of science degree in economics. Cooper later earned a master's degree in strategic intelligence from the National Intelligence University, and also studied National Security Policy and International Relations at Harvard and Tufts Universities. He is also a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College.
Military career
Brad Cooper (admiral)
A career surface warfare officer, he served on guided-missile cruisers, guided-missile destroyers, aircraft carriers, and amphibious assault ships. Cooper's assignments included as the CIC officer on USS Thomas S. Gates (CG 51), operations officer of the USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) and USS Anzio (CG 68), and executive officer of the USS Vicksburg (CG 69). He was also the flag aide to the commander of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group. His ship commands were USS Russell (DDG 59) and USS Gettysburg (CG 64). During his tenure as commanding officer of Gettysburg, the ship and its crew won the 2013 Battenberg Cup, recognizing it as the best vessel in the United States Fleet Forces Command, the Navy's Atlantic fleet. Cooper was awarded the Legion of Merit for his accomplishments as Gettysburg's captain.
Among his deployments were Operation Desert Storm; three counter-narcotics operations off the coast of South America; the enforcement of the no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina and operations in the buildup to the Kosovo War; Haitian migrant operations; a deployment in the Western Pacific; three maritime interdiction operations in the Persian Gulf against Saddam Hussein's Iraq; a deployment to the Arabian Sea after the 9/11 attacks; and the war in Afghanistan.
Ashore, he served in a variety of executive, military assistant, and special assistant roles in the White House, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. Africa Command, and U.S. Pacific Fleet headquarters. These included special assistant to the Commander, U.S. Africa Command; division chief for strategic reform of the Afghan Police and Border Guards while assigned to Combined Security Transition Command, Afghanistan; and flag aide to the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. He also served as principal U.S. Advisor to the Interior Minister of Afghanistan and both Deputy Director and Director, Surface Warfare Officer assignments (Pers-41), at Navy Personnel Command.
As a flag officer, he served as the chief of legislative affairs, leading the Navy's engagement with the U.S. Congress. His other assignments include commander of Naval Surface Force Atlantic, in which he launched new initiatives to expand mental healthcare access for sailors and improve fleet-wide readiness; commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 7 in Okinawa, Japan, where he led the U.S. military's first F-35 deployment; and commander of U.S. Naval Forces Korea. During this tour, his sailors were honored with the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, the first such recognition of a Navy unit since the Korean War. During his tenure as commander of Naval Forces Korea, Cooper was bestowed the Korean name Goo Tae-il by the ROK-US Alliance Friendship Association in honor of his service to the Korean peninsula.
In April 2021, he was nominated for promotion to vice admiral and the position in Bahrain of commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command; commander of U.S. Fifth Fleet; and commander of Combined Maritime Forces. Cooper took office on 5 May 2021. During this tour, he significantly expanded multi-national maritime partnerships, established the Navy's first unmanned and artificial intelligence Task Force, and led multiple real world operations countering Iranian and Houthi malign activity throughout the Middle East, including operations Prosperity Guardian and Poseidon Archer in the southern Red Sea. He was in charge of U.S. naval forces in Middle Eastern waters when Operation Prosperity Guardian began in December 2023 to defend merchant ships from attacks by the Houthis in Yemen, and played a central role in the operation.
In April 2023, Cooper was nominated for reappointment as vice admiral and assignment as the deputy commander of United States Central Command. He took office in February 2024. That same month, he told the media that the actions against the Houthis represent the largest and most intense operation of the U.S. Navy since World War II. During 2024 Cooper organized the U.S. military's maritime corridor that briefly increased the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
CENTCOM commander
Cooper speaks at the CENTCOM change of command ceremony in Tampa, Florida, 8 August 2025.
In June 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that Cooper was president Donald Trump's nominee for commander of the United States Central Command. Cooper was selected by the Trump administration over Army general James Mingus, who had been expected to receive the position, in what was interpreted as a prioritization of naval operations ahead of a potential confrontation with Iran and the ongoing mission against the Houthis. Cooper is a critic of Iran and a supporter of Israel, like his predecessor Michael Kurilla. At his nomination hearing, Cooper said that the U.S. should maintain its military presence in Syria as part of the war against the Islamic State, and should work with the Syrian transitional government against ISIS. On 8 August 2025, he succeeded Kurilla as commander of Central Command, becoming the first naval officer to hold the post since William J. Fallon in 2008, as it was traditionally held by Army or Marine generals.
In September 2025, Cooper visited Damascus, where he met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and U.S. special envoy Tom Barrack to discuss cooperation on counter-Islamic State operations and future U.S.–Syrian engagement. On 21 January 2026, Cooper spoke by phone with al-Sharaa regarding the ceasefire with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) amid the northeastern Syria offensive and coordination on the transfer of Islamic State detainees from Syria to Iraq. The next day, Cooper met with SDF commander-in-chief Mazloum Abdi, along with Tom Barrack, in Erbil to discuss implementation, integration, and ongoing U.S. support for the ceasefire. On 24 January, he visited Tel Aviv, holding meetings with Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and other senior officials to reinforce close strategic military cooperation amid a broader U.S. military buildup in the Middle East.
On 6 February 2026, Cooper took part in the indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States that were held in Muscat, Oman, along with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. On 26 February, Cooper and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine briefed Donald Trump on military options with regard to Iran. Cooper began the U.S. strikes on Iran on 28 February on the order of Trump. On the first day, he stated that the goal of CENTCOM's operation was to dismantle the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Cooper also wrote a letter addressed to U.S. troops in the Middle East, telling them that they will "change the course of human history." Cooper and his team spent the weeks before the attack identifying targets in Iran that enabled it to project power beyond its borders. He issued an update on the operation on 3 March, claiming to have eliminated the Iranian Navy. On 5 March he said the next phase of the war would be targeting Iran's missile production capacity. Cooper confirmed on 11 March that the military is using artificial intelligence tools in the war, but said that "humans will always make final decisions" on targeting.
Awards and decorations
Brad Cooper (admiral)
<table><thead><tr><th>Surface Warfare Officer Pin</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster</td><td>Navy Distinguished Service Medal with one gold award star</td><td>Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster</td></tr><tr><td>Legion of Merit with four gold award stars</td><td>Bronze Star Medal</td><td>Defense Meritorious Service Medal</td></tr><tr><td>Meritorious Service Medal with four award stars</td><td>Joint Service Commendation Medal</td><td>Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with four award stars</td></tr><tr><td>Joint Service Achievement Medal</td><td>Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal</td><td>Joint Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters</td></tr><tr><td>Navy Unit Commendation</td><td>Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with one silver service star</td><td>Meritorious Team Commendation with Operational Distinguishing Device</td></tr><tr><td>Navy "E" Ribbon with wreathed Battle E device</td><td>National Defense Service Medal with service star</td><td>Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal</td></tr><tr><td>Southwest Asia Service Medal with two service stars</td><td>Afghanistan Campaign Medal with service star</td><td>Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal</td></tr><tr><td>Global War on Terrorism Service Medal</td><td>Korea Defense Service Medal</td><td>Armed Forces Service Medal with service star</td></tr><tr><td>Humanitarian Service Medal with two service stars</td><td>Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal</td><td>Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver service star</td></tr><tr><td>Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with three service stars</td><td>Special Operations Service Ribbon</td><td>Defence Cooperation Medal (Japan)</td></tr><tr><td>Order of National Security Merit, Cheonsu Medal (Republic of Korea)</td><td>NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia</td><td>Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)</td></tr><tr><td>Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)</td><td>Navy Expert Rifleman Medal</td><td>Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal</td></tr><tr><td>Command at Sea insignia</td></tr><tr><td>Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge</td></tr><tr><td>Presidential Service Badge</td></tr><tr><td>United States Central Command Badge</td></tr></tbody></table>
Personal life
Brad Cooper (admiral)
He is married to Susan, who is a speech-language pathologist, and they have two children.
Cooper was briefly a fellow of the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies.