Chief Master Sergeant Brian M. Cooper is the Command Chief for the 159th Fighter Wing, Louisiana Air National Guard, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans, Louisiana. He is responsible for advising and assisting the Wing Commander on all affairs concerning over 1400 personnel within the Fighter Wing.
Chief Cooper enlisted in the Louisiana Air National Guard in February 1987. He graduated Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, followed by Electrical Systems technical school at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois. He graduated from Nicholls State University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in General Studies. Chief Cooper taught special education and coached football at his high school alma mater for four years. In 1996, he transitioned to full time employment with the 159th Fighter Wing as an Electrical/Environmental Systems Specialist. In 2002, he was selected to the Maintenance Squadron First Sergeant position and attended the First Sergeant Academy at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. In January 2003, he was selected President of the First Sergeant’s Council. Chief Cooper has served as the Electrical/Environmental Work Center Supervisor, Accessories Section Supervisor, the Maintenance Production Supervisor and Maintenance Operations Flight Superintendent before becoming the first Maintenance Group Chief in 2016. In 2018, Chief Cooper served as the Component Repair Flight Superintendent and then selected as the 159th Operation Group Chief in 2020. CMSgt Cooper has deployed to numerous locations in support of Operations NORTHERN WATCH and SOUTHERN WATCH. He has also served in numerous domestic activations including Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, Ike, Laura, and Ida. CMSgt Cooper now serves as the 159th Fighter Wing Command Chief Master Sergeant.
EDUCATION
1987 Tactical Electrical and Environmental Systems Specialist, Chanute Air Force Base, Ill.
1990 Non-Commissioned Officer Preparatory Course, correspondence
1992 Bachelor of Arts Degree in General Studies, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, La.
2000 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, correspondence
2002 First Sergeant Academy, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Ala.
2005 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Gunter Air Force Base, Montgomery, Ala.
2009 Production Superintendent School, Vermont Air National Guard, Burlington, Vt.
2012 Associate Degree in Applied Science Aviation Maintenance Technology, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Chief Master Sergeant’s Executive Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Feb 1987 – Apr 1987, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. Apr 1987 – Aug 1987, Student, Aircraft Electrical System Specialist, Chanute Air Force Base, Ill.
3. Aug 1987 – Nov 2002, Electrical Environmental System Specialist, 159 MXS, NAS JRB New Orleans, La.
4. Nov 2002 – Apr 2005, First Sergeant, 159 MXS, NAS JRB New Orleans, La.
5. Apr 2005 – Jul 2007, Electrical Environmental Superintendent, 159 MXS, NAS JRB New Orleans, La.
6. Jul 2007 – Apr 2009, Accessories Maintenance Superintendent, 159 MXS, NAS JRB New Orleans, La.
7. Apr 2009 – Nov 2010, Production Superintendent, 159 AMXS, NAS JRB New Orleans, La.
8. Nov 2010 – Jul 2016, Maintenance Operations Flight Superintendent, NAS JRB New Orleans, La.
9. Jun 2016 – Jan 2020, Group Chief, 159 Maintenance Group, NAS JRB New Orleans, La.
10. Jul 2018 – Jan 2020, Component Repair Flight Superintendent, 159th MXS, NAS JRB New Orleans, La.
11. Jan 2020 – Aug 2023, Group Chief, 159 Operations Group, NAS JRB New Orleans, La.
12. Aug 2023 – Present, Wing Command Chief, 159th Fighter Wing, NAS JRB New Orleans, La.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal – Two Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal – Two Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award – Five Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal - Eleven Oak Leaf Clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one device
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with one device
Southwest Asia Service Medal with one device
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal with one device
Humanitarian Service Medal with one device
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short
Air Force Longevity Service – with Seven Oak Leaf Clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with One M Device – Two devices
USAF Non-Commissioned Officer PME Graduate Ribbon
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one device
Air Force Training Ribbon
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Louisiana Cross of Merit
Louisiana Commendation Medal – Four Fleur-De-Lis Devices
Louisiana Achievement Medal
Louisiana War Cross
Louisiana Cold War Victory Award
Louisiana Emergency Service Medal – Ten Fleur-De-Lis Devices
Louisiana General Excellence – Seven Fleur-De-Lis Devices
Louisiana Longevity Medal – Seven Fleur-De-Lis Devices
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Enlisted Association of the National Guard, Life Member
Louisiana Air National Guard Enlisted Association
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2004 First Sergeant of the Year, Louisiana Air National Guard
2014 Chief Master Sergeant of the Year, Louisiana Air National Guard
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class – September 15, 1987
Senior Airman – July 09, 1988
Sergeant – January 15, 1990
Staff Sergeant – January 15, 1992
Technical Sergeant – January 05, 1995
Master Sergeant – December 18, 2002
Senior Master Sergeant – August 15, 2007
Chief Master Sergeant – March 30, 2011