Colonel Bryan J. Cooper

Col. Bryan J. Cooper is the Commander, Detachment 1, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. With additional operating locations at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, Colonel Cooper oversees an operating budget exceeding $500 million. He acts as the senior AFIMSC representative to Headquarters U.S. Space Force, leading a team of 25 military and civilian subject matter experts. Under his leadership, the team manages enterprise-wide assets and delivers critical installation and mission support to more than 37,500 Guardians and Airmen stationed around the globe.

Col. Cooper received his commission as a civil engineering officer through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Clarkson University in 2000. His first assignment was with the 819th RED HORSE Squadron, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, where he served as an electrical project engineer. In September 2003, he was reassigned to the 354th Civil Engineer Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, taking on the role of Chief of Design within the engineering flight. Following his time at Eielson AFB, Col. Cooper was sponsored by the Air Force Institute of Technology to complete his master’s degree under the civilian institute program, with a follow-on to teach at The Civil Engineer School, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He later completed a one-year remote tour as the support officer at Clear Air Force Station, Alaska.

In June 2010, Col. Cooper became the first civil engineer to join the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Following his teaching assignment, Col. Cooper held a joint position as part of an operational team flying with the National Airborne Operations Center, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. He separated active duty in late 2015 and transitioned to the Air Force Reserve in 2016 as the 302nd Civil Engineer Squadron Commander at Peterson SFB. Col. Cooper transferred to become the Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command Engineering Division Chief at Peterson SFB. Prior to his current position, Col. Cooper was the Deputy Commander, 622nd Civil Engineer Flight, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia.