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Brad Cooper leads US military operations against Iran

The head of U.S. Central Command oversees the American campaign launched after Operation Epic Fury, bringing decades of naval experience and close coordination with Israel

Brad Cooper leads US military operations against Iran, directing the American campaign triggered by Operation Epic Fury, the military initiative ordered by Donald Trump.

With more than 30 years of service in the U.S. Navy, Cooper now heads United States Central Command (CENTCOM), the command responsible for coordinating the entire American military effort in the region.

Officials who have worked closely with him describe Cooper as a commander capable of handling complex situations, combining detailed knowledge of military operations with a strong political instinct. In his current role, Brad Cooper leads US military operations against Iran while managing coordination with both U.S. allies and political leadership in Washington.

Before taking command of CENTCOM, Cooper served as commander of the United States Fifth Fleet, headquartered in Bahrain. In the summer of 2024, when he was vice admiral and deputy commander of CENTCOM, he coordinated operations responding to attacks by Houthis targeting commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea.

On the eve of the U.S. military intervention, Cooper briefed President Donald Trump at the White House on possible military options. He also maintains regular contact with Eyal Zamir, commander of the Israel Defense Forces.

Cooper was also involved in indirect negotiations with Iran held in Oman alongside Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. The following day he hosted the two White House envoys aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.

Appointed to lead CENTCOM in August last year, shortly after the June conflict targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, Cooper is often seen as the opposite of his predecessor, Michael ‘Erik’ Kurilla. Kurilla was known for a strong and highly visible leadership style, while Cooper has maintained a lower public profile despite working closely with him after the October 7 attacks carried out by Hamas.

Under Cooper’s leadership, analysts say CENTCOM has taken on a more political dimension as Brad Cooper leads US military operations against Iran while coordinating closely with both Washington and regional partners.

The son of a U.S. Army officer, Cooper graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1989. He later studied international relations at Harvard University and Tufts University and earned a master’s degree in strategic intelligence from the National Intelligence University.

Throughout his career he has held command roles in Japan, South Korea and Bahrain.

Cooper has also served in senior policy roles in Washington, including as an executive and military assistant at the White House during the presidency of Barack Obama, where he oversaw a program aimed at helping military veterans reintegrate into civilian life. He later worked in the office of the U.S. secretary of defense and led the Navy’s legislative affairs office.

Shortly after assuming command of CENTCOM, Cooper conducted debriefings on the joint U.S.-Israeli operations during the 12-day war and began assessing how to “collaborate and coordinate” with Israel in the event of another round of attacks. The lessons shared with Tel Aviv helped lay the groundwork for the new operation that began on February 28, as Brad Cooper leads US military operations against Iran.

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