Vice Adm. Brad Cooper is the son of a career Army Officer. He is a 1989 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and earned a master’s degree in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University. He has also studied national security policy and international relations at Harvard and Tufts Universities.

A career Surface Warfare Officer, he served on guided-missile cruisers, guided-missile destroyers, aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships. His ship commands include USS RUSSELL (DDG 59) and USS GETTYSBURG (CG 64).

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. He also served as principal U.S. Advisor to the Interior Minister of Afghanistan and Director, Surface Warfare Officer assignments (Pers-41).

As a flag officer, he most recently served as commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/FIFTH Fleet/Combined Maritime Forces. 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 Poseidan Archer in the southern Red Sea. Previous tours include service as the Chief of Legislative Affairs, where he led the Navy’s engagement with the U.S. Congress; commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic; commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7 in Okinawa, Japan; and, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea.

Cooper is a recipient of the Admiral Elmo Zumwalt Award for Visionary Leadership.

He is particularly proud of the extraordinary men and women with whom he has served at sea and ashore all around the world. Together, these exceptional teams earned 11 unit citations and 10 “Battle E” awards for excellence. His amazing Sailors on USS Gettysburg earned the Battenberg Cup as the best ship, submarine or aircraft carrier in the Navy’s Atlantic Fleet.

Last Updated: 15 February 2024