Colonel Charles Cooper Col Charles Cooper is the Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Space Operations Command (SpOC), U.S. Space Force at Peterson SFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado. In this role, he synchronizes and integrates policy, plans, procedures, and cross functional teams across one thousand two hundred headquarters personnel to support over nineteen thousand air and space mission ready personnel. Colonel Cooper graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology and earned his commission from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program in 2004. He is a Master Space Operations officer and has commanded the 533d Training Squadron. Col Cooper has served in a variety of operational and staff positions within the Space Force, Air Force, and National Reconnaissance Office. Prior to his current position, Col Cooper was the Deputy Director, Plans, Programs and Requirements, Space Training and Readiness Command, Peterson SFB, Colorado. EDUCATION 2004 Bachelor of Science, Physics, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Ill. 2004 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. 2009 Master of Science, Space Systems Ops Management, Webster University, St. Louis, Mo. 2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. 2014 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence. 2015 Joint Professional Military Education Phase II, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk Va. 2018 Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Ks. 2021 Air War College, by correspondence. 2023 Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, United States Naval War College, Newport, R.I. ASSIGNMENTS July 2004 - March 2005, Student, Space 100 & Defense Support Program Initial Qualification Training, Vandenberg AFB, Calif. March 2005 - April 2006, Satellite Systems Operator, 1st Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo. April 2006 - April 2007, Crew Commander, 1st Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo. April 2007 - June 2008, Evaluator, 50th Operations Group, Schriever AFB, Colo. June 2008 - July 2009, Chief of Training, 1st Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo. July 2009 - July 2010, Flight Commander, 1st Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo. July 2010 - April 2012, Watch Officer, Joint Collaboration Cell, National Reconnaissance Office, Washington D.C. April 2012 - April 2013, Chief, Joint Collaboration Cell, National Reconnaissance Office, Washington D.C. April 2013 - June 2014, Executive Officer, National Reconnaissance Office, Washington D.C. June 2014 - August 2016, Strategic Planner and Analyst, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb. August 2016 - June 2017, Operations Officer, Classified Location. June 2017 - June 2018, Student, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. June 2018 – June 2022, Chief, Basing and Units, United States Space Force, Peterson AFB, Colo. June 2022- July 2022, Commander, 533d Training Squadron, Vandenberg SFB, Cal. July 2022 – June 2023, Student, United States Naval War College, Newport R.I. June 2023 – August 2024, Director Commander’s Action Group, Headquarters Space Training and Readiness Command Peterson SFB, Colo. August 2024 – July 2025, Deputy Director Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Headquarters Space Training and Readiness Command Peterson SFB, Colo. July 2025– Present, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Space Operations Command, Peterson SFB, Colo. SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS June 2014 – August 2016, Strategic Planner and Analyst, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb. MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf clusters Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Air Force Commendation Medal Joint Service Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster Air Force Achievement Medal EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant May 15, 2004 First Lieutenant June 13, 2006 Captain June 13, 2008 Major December 1, 2014 Lieutenant Colonel June 1, 2019 Colonel January 1, 2025 (Current as of July 2025)