Kathleen Cooper Associate Director, Capability and Resource Integration Directorate U.S. Strategic Command/J8A

Kathleen Cooper, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Associate Director, Capability and Resource Integration Directorate, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.  Ms. Cooper is responsible for conducting force management and analysis to include integrating, coordinating, prioritizing and advocating U.S. Strategic Command future concepts, mission capability needs, weapons system development, support for emerging technologies, and command and control architecture across the mission   areas. She is also responsible for the articulation and development of all command requirement processes to ensure U.S. Strategic Command has the tools to accomplish its mission, and ensures appropriate decision support tools and assessment processes are in place to enhance operational capabilities. 

Ms. Cooper began her civilian government service as a Strategic Planner and Analyst in the Plans and Policy Directorate at U.S. Strategic Command.  She then served as the Deputy Director of the Commander’s Action Group, providing guidance and support to an elite group of specially selected joint warfighters directly supporting the Commander of U.S. Strategic Command’s vision and strategy.   

During her 24-year military career in the Air Force, Ms. Cooper was as a Space and Missile Operations officer serving in various operational and staff positions.  Prior to receiving her commission through Officer Training School, she enlisted in the Air Force and served in the medical career field. 

She holds master’s degrees from King’s College London, United Kingdom (War in the Modern World), the Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (Military Strategy), Air Command and Staff College (Military Operational Art and Science), and University of Phoenix (Master of Business Administration).  Ms. Cooper received her bachelor’s degree from Wayland Baptist University, Plainview, Texas.  She was awarded a certificate of completion for the Senior Executive Fellows Program from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Executive Education.