Admiral Brad Cooper

Admiral Brad Cooper is the commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM). CENTCOM is a theater-level Unified Combatant Command of the U.S. Department of Defense, responsible for U.S. military operations in the Middle East, parts of Africa, and Central Asia. Admiral Cooper's leadership is currently newsworthy due to the recent increase in U.S. military action against ISIS targets in Syria. These actions are a direct response to a deadly ISIS ambush in Palmyra in December that resulted in the deaths of two American service members and an interpreter. Under Admiral Cooper's command, CENTCOM has conducted multiple strikes, including a 'massive strike' involving fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery, targeting over 70 locations across central Syria. These operations, some conducted jointly with Jordanian forces, highlight the ongoing U.S. commitment to combating ISIS and ensuring its enduring defeat within the CENTCOM area of responsibility.