Col. Willie L. Cooper is the Commander of the 37th Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. In this position he leads the largest, most diverse training wing in the Air Force known as the “Gateway to the Air Force.” The Gateway Wing, provides foundational training and education to develop multi-capable Airmen, Guardians and sister service members; strengthens and sustains U.S. and international partnerships through English language and special skills training for allied forces; and is the Department of Defense executive agent for the Military Working Dog program. The wing is comprised of the 737th Training Group, which generates nearly 93% of the Air Force enlisted force and 100% of the Space Force enlisted force in Basic Military Training; the 37th Training Group which provides technical training in 23 different career fields; the Inter-American Air Forces Academy that promotes security cooperation principles through the delivery of professional military education and technical training in Spanish; and the 637th Training Group, known as Defense Language Institute English Language Center, which provides English language training and cultural immersion for more than 3,500 international military students annually.
Col. Cooper commissioned from the Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in 1999. His assignments include duties at the squadron, wing, Field Operating Agency, Major Command, headquarters, and Office of the Secretary of Defense level. He has deployed in support of contingency operations in Southwest Asia and Iraq. His Pentagon assignments include duty as the Chief of Development and Retention for Diversity and Inclusion, Director of the A1 Action Group, and Special Assistant for Personnel Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Prior to his current position, Col. Cooper was the Commander, 375th Mission Support Group, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science, Exercise Physiology, Drury University, Springfield, Mo.
2005 Master of Science, Business Administration, University of Phoenix
2006 Squadron Officer School (top third graduate), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Air Command and Staff College (by correspondence)
2013 Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2013 Air War College (by correspondence)
2020 Master of National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
2021 USAF Leading Strategically Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1999 - September 2000, Squadron Section Commander, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron, 341st Mission Support Group, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
2. September 2000 - August 2002, Squadron Section Commander, 741st Security Forces Squadron, 341st Operations Group, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
3. August 2002 - May 2003, Test Control Officer, Chicago Military Entrance Processing Station, U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command, Des Plaines, Ill.
4. May 2003 - May 2005, Operations Officer, Chicago Military Entrance Processing Station, U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command, Des Plaines, Ill.
5. May 2005 - May 2006, Chief, Customer Support, 22d Mission Support Squadron, 22d Mission Support Group, McConnell AFB, Kan.
6. May 2006 - August 2007, Wing Executive Officer, 22d Air Refueling Wing, McConnell AFB, Kan.
7. August 2007 - March 2009, Operations Officer, 22d Mission Support Squadron, then 22d Force Support Squadron, 22d Mission Support Group, McConnell AFB, Kan.
8. March 2009 - May 2011, Chief, Mobility Air Forces Force Development, Air Force Personnel Center Field Operating Location with duties at Scott AFB, Ill.
9. May 2011 - May 2012, Assistant Executive Officer to the Commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
10. May 2012 - May 2013, Student, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
11. May 2013 - June 2014, Commander, 380th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron, 380th Expeditionary Mission Support Group, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates
12. June 2014 - June 2015, Chief, Development and Retention Branch, Directorate of Diversity and Inclusion, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
13. June 2015 - June 2016, Director, Action Group, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
14. June 2016 - June 2018, Special Assistant for Personnel Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
15. June 2018 – July 2019, Executive Officer to the Commander, Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas
16. July 2019 – August 2020, Student, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
17. August 2020 – July 2022, Director, Manpower and Personnel, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
18. July 2022 – May 2024, Commander, 375th Mission Support Group, 375th Air Mobility Wing, Scott AFB, Ill.
19. May 2024 – present, Commander, 37th Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2002 - May 2005, Test Control Officer, then operations Officer, Chicago Military Entrance Processing Station, U.S. Entrance Processing Command, Des Plaines, Ill.
2. June 2016 - June 2018, Special Assistant for Personnel Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
3. August 2020 – July 2022, Director, Manpower and Personnel, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant August 20, 1999
First Lieutenant August 20, 2001
Captain August 20, 2003
Major July 1, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel December 1, 2014
Colonel August 1, 2020
(Current as of May 2024)