Brad Cooper
Official portrait, 2025
Birth name Charles Bradford Cooper II
Born 1967 (age 58–59)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Navy
Service years 1989–present
Rank Admiral
Commands United States Central Command
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)
Conflicts
  • Gulf War
  • Bosnian War
    • Operation Deny Flight
  • Kosovo War
  • War in Afghanistan
  • Red Sea crisis
    • Operation Prosperity Guardian
    • Operation Poseidon Archer
  • 2026 Iran war
Awards Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (5)
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 Susan Cooper[1]

Charles Bradford Cooper II (born 1967) is an American admiral who has served as the commander of the United States Central Command since August 2025. He most recently served as deputy commander of the United States Central Command from 2024 to 2025, and previously as commander of the United States Naval Forces Central Command, United States Fifth Fleet, and Combined Maritime Forces from 2021 to 2024.

Cooper graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1989. He has been deployed during operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, South America, and the Balkans. A surface warfare officer, he has commanded a destroyer, a cruiser, United States Naval Forces Korea, and Expeditionary Strike Group 7. Cooper has also served in the Navy Personnel Command and in the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan, while an advisor to the Afghan government. His other senior posts include as the Chief of Legislative Affairs of the United States Navy from 2019 to 2020 and as 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. He has led U.S. forces in combat operations during the Red Sea crisis and the 2026 Iran war.

Early life and education

Charles Bradford Cooper II[2] was born in 1967[3] and is the son of a U.S. Army officer.[4] He attended Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama, and is a 1989 graduate of the United States Naval Academy,[2] where he obtained a bachelor of science degree in economics.[1] Cooper later earned a master's degree in strategic intelligence from the National Intelligence University,[5] and also studied National Security Policy and International Relations at Harvard and Tufts Universities.[4] He is also a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College.[1]

Military career

A career surface warfare officer, he served on guided-missile cruisers, guided-missile destroyers, aircraft carriers, and amphibious assault ships.[4] 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).[1] He was also the flag aide to the commander of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group.[1] His ship commands were USS Russell (DDG 59) and USS Gettysburg (CG 64).[4] 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.[6]

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.[1]

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.[4] 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.[1] He also served as principal U.S. Advisor to the Interior Minister of Afghanistan[4] and both Deputy Director[1] and Director, Surface Warfare Officer assignments (Pers-41),[4] at Navy Personnel Command.[1]

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.[4] During his tenure as commander of Naval Forces Korea, Cooper was bestowed the Korean name Goo Tae-il[a][b] by the ROK-US Alliance Friendship Association in honor of his service to the Korean peninsula.[7]

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.[8][9] Cooper took office on 5 May 2021.[10] 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.[5] 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,[11] and played a central role in the operation.[12]

In April 2023, Cooper was nominated for reappointment as vice admiral and assignment as the deputy commander of United States Central Command.[13][8] He took office in February 2024.[14] 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.[15] During 2024 Cooper organized the U.S. military's maritime corridor that briefly increased the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.[12]

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.[16] Cooper was selected by the Trump administration over Army general James Mingus, who had been expected to receive the position,[14] 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.[12] 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.[17] On 8 August 2025, he succeeded Kurilla as commander of Central Command,[18] 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.[12]

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.[19] 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.[20] 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.[21] 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.[22]

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.[23] On 26 February, Cooper and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine briefed Donald Trump on military options with regard to Iran.[24] Cooper began the U.S. strikes on Iran on 28 February on the order of Trump.[25] On the first day, he stated that the goal of CENTCOM's operation was to dismantle the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.[26] 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."[27] Cooper and his team spent the weeks before the attack identifying targets in Iran that enabled it to project power beyond its borders.[28] He issued an update on the operation on 3 March, claiming to have eliminated the Iranian Navy.[29] On 5 March he said the next phase of the war would be targeting Iran's missile production capacity.[30]

Awards and decorations

Bronze oak leaf cluster
Gold star
Bronze oak leaf cluster
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
Bronze star
Silver star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Surface Warfare Officer Pin
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster Navy Distinguished Service Medal with one gold award star Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with four 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 with service star
Humanitarian Service Medal with two service stars 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 Defence Cooperation Medal (Japan)
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
United States Central Command Badge

Personal life

He is married to Susan, who is a speech-language pathologist, and they have two children.[1]

Cooper was briefly a fellow of the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ In this Korean name, the family name is Goo.
  2. ^ Korean: 구태일; Hanja: 龜泰日

References

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

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "White House Author – Brad Cooper". Obama White House. 18 November 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d e f g h "Vice Admiral Brad Cooper". Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2025. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ a b "Vice Admiral Brad Cooper". www.navy.mil. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ "Change of Command in USS Gettysburg". www.navy.mil. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  7. ^ Lee Chi-dong (19 July 2017). "U.S. naval commander to get Korean name". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Flag Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. 24 April 2023. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Flag Officer Announcements". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021.
  10. ^ "NAVCENT, U.S. Fifth Fleet, CMF Change of Command". U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. 6 May 2021.
  11. ^ "NAVCENT Commander Vice Admiral Brad Cooper Holds an Off-Camera, On-The-Record Press Briefing via Teleconference on Operation Prosperity Guardian". United States Department of Defense. U.S. Department of Defense. 4 January 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d El-Fekki, Amira (6 June 2025). "Trump Changes Top Middle East General For Strong Iran Hawk". Newsweek. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  13. ^ "PN545 — Vice Adm. Charles B. Cooper II — Navy". U.S. Congress. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  14. ^ a b Lamothe, Dan; Ryan, Missy (29 April 2025). "Hegseth backs admiral for Middle East post, passing over Army general". The Washington Post.
  15. ^ O'Donnell, Norah; Chasan, Aliza; Sharman, Keith; Feitel, Roxanne (18 February 2024). "U.S. Navy three-star admiral discusses the mission to stop Houthi Red Sea attacks". CBS News.
  16. ^ Ismay, John (4 June 2025). "Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced President Trump's pick for the next leader of U.S. Central Command, which directs U.S. military operations throughout the Middle East, and of U.S. Africa Command, which covers operations across the African continent". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  17. ^ "CENTCOM nominee underscores need for US military presence in Syria". The Arab Weekly. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  18. ^ "U.S. Central Command Bids Farewell to Gen. Kurilla, Welcomes New Leadership". United States Central Command. 8 August 2025. Archived from the original on 9 August 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  19. ^ "U.S., Syrian Leaders Meet in Damascus". CENTCOM. 12 September 2025.
  20. ^ "US to transfer Islamic State prisoners from Syria to Iraq". BBC News. 21 January 2026.
  21. ^ "Mazloum Abdi Welcomes US Support for Ceasefire, Integration Talks". Kurdistan 24. 22 January 2026.
  22. ^ "Visiting CENTCOM chief meets top IDF generals amid US military buildup in Mideast". The Times of Israel. 24 January 2026.
  23. ^ Finley, Ben; Toropin, Konstantin (7 February 2026). "Trump's military leaders help with diplomacy on Iran and Ukraine". Associated Press. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  24. ^ Flaherty, Anne; Scott, Rachel (26 February 2026). "Top Mideast commander briefs Trump on military options on Iran". ABC News. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  25. ^ "Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine Hold a Press Briefing". www.war.gov. U.S. Department of Defense. 2 March 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  26. ^ LaFranchi, Howard (1 March 2026). "In Iran, Trump is trying something untested: Outsourcing regime change". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  27. ^ Nieberg, Patty (3 March 2026). "US commander tells troops Iran strikes 'will change human history'". Task & Purpose. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  28. ^ "Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine Hold a Press Briefing". www.war.gov. U.S. Department of Defense. 4 March 2026. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  29. ^ "ICYMI: Update from CENTCOM Commander on Operation Epic Fury". www.whitehouse.gov. The White House. 4 March 2026. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  30. ^ Watson, Eleanor; Walsh, Joe (5 March 2026). "U.S. military now seeking to "raze or level" Iran's ballistic missile industry, Adm. Cooper says". CBS News. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
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