Brandon Cooley, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1999 and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego. In June 2003, he attended Officer Candidate’s School. In May 2004, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and attended The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia.

As a company grade officer, his operational assignments include: Heavy Equipment Platoon Commander, Engineer Company Commander, and Bravo Company Executive Officer, Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 (Operation IRAQI FREEDOM); Engineer Company Commander, Combat Logistics Regiment 2 (Operation ENDURING FREEDOM).

As a field grade officer, his operational assignments include: Operations Officer, 8th Engineer Support Battalion; Operations Officer and Ground Combat Element Officer in Charge, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Southern Command (SPMAGTF-SC 15); Future Operations Officer, 2d Marine Logistics Group.

His supporting establishment assignments include: Inspector-Instructor, Engineer Maintenance Company, 4th Maintenance Battalion; Faculty Advisor, Course Director, and Curriculum Developer, Expeditionary Warfare School.

Lieutenant Colonel Cooley’s military education includes: Basic Engineer Equipment Repairers Course, Combat Engineer Officers Course, Anti-terrorism Officers Advanced Course, Tactical Logistics Operations Course, Expeditionary Warfare School, Tactical MAGTF Integration Course, Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) Martial Arts Instructor Course, MCMAP Martial Arts Instructor/Trainer Course, Intermediate MAGTF Logistics Operations Course, Joint Humanitarian Operations Course, Security Cooperation Planners Course, Joint Engineer Operations Course, and Marine Corps Command and Staff College.

Lieutenant Colonel Cooley holds a BS in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska – Omaha and a MS in Military Studies from the Marine Corps University.