COLONEL JEFFREY T. COOPER
Colonel Jeffrey T. Cooper is the Commander, 637th Training Group, and Commandant, Defense Language Institute English Language Center (DLIELC), Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. He commands three squadrons and directs the Department of Defense English language training program that provides on-campus English language training to military and civilian leaders from over 110 countries annually. In addition, he oversees English language training at over 30 non-resident locations around the world. As the Gateway to America for all its international students, DLIELC also provides a comprehensive American cultural immersion experience through a program of excursions and community interactive projects.
Colonel Cooper entered the Air Force in 1993 as a graduate of the Reserve Officer Training Corps, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri. A career logistics officer, he has held a variety of leadership & command positions both in the field and on staff. He has commanded a logistics readiness squadron, an expeditionary logistics readiness squadron, and a detachment to a Headquarters Air Force direct reporting unit. He is a Joint Specialty Officer and Joint Operations Planning and Execution System operator. Additionally, he is a Regional Affairs Specialist for the Latin America Region.
EDUCATION:
1993 Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
1994 Transportation Officer Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
1997 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
1998 Logistics Plans Officer Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
2004 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence)
2007 Joint & Combined Warfighting School, National Defense University, Norfolk, Virginia
2008 Master of Arts, Political Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
2009 Air War College (correspondence)
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. September 1993-January 1995, Squadron Operations Duty Officer, 436th Aerial Port Squadron, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware
2. January 1995-June 1996, Flight Commander, Vehicle Maintenance, 436th Transportation Squadron, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware
3. June 1996-June 1998, Detachment Operations Officer, Detachment 3, 621st Air Mobility Support Group (Air Mobility Command), Aviano Air Base, Italy
4. June 1998-October 2000, Logistics Liaison, US Southern Command Air Forces/12th Air Force, HQ US Southern Command, Miami, Florida
5. October 2000-December 2001, Logistics Flight Commander, 612th Air Base Squadron, Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras
6. January 2002-July 2003, Channel Cargo System Director, Tanker Airlift Control Center, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
7. July 2003-June 2004, Chief of Cargo Movement, Air Transportation Division, Directorate of Logistics, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
8. June 2004-November 2004, Chief, Passenger Policy Branch, Air Transportation Division, Directorate of Logistics, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
9. November 2004-June 2008, Chief, J4 Air Operations, Joint Task Force North, US Northern Command, Fort Bliss, Texas
10. June 2008-June 2010, Commander, Detachment 1, Joint Personal Property Shipping Office, Colorado Springs, Colorado
11. June 2010-June 2012, Commander, 7th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, with duties as Commander, 447th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, 447th Air Expeditionary Group, Sather Air Base, Baghdad, Iraq
12. July 2012-January 2015, Deputy Commander, 49th Mission Support Group, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, with duties as Deputy Commander, 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.
13. January 2015-May 2015, Operations Director-Military, Stakeholder Integration Services, Directorate of Communications, Headquarters Defense Logistics Agency, Ft. Belvoir, VA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant July 1993
First Lieutenant July 1995
Captain July 1997
Major December 2003
Lieutenant Colonel December 2008
Colonel March 2015
(Current as of May 15)