Brad Cooper (admiral)
Brad Cooper | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Charles Bradford Cooper II |
| Born | 1967 (age 57–58) Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1989–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 Operation Deny Flight War in Afghanistan Red Sea crisis |
| 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 |
Charles Bradford "Brad" Cooper II (born 1967), 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. He previously served as Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic and, before that, as the Chief of Legislative Affairs of the United States Navy. 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 will be the first Navy admiral to hold the post since William J. Fallon in 2008.