Leadership
Lt. Col. Carl E. Cooper, Jr.
Lieutenant Colonel Cooper was commissioned through the Platoon Leaders Class in May 1993, following graduation from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Arts in History.
Upon graduation from the Basic and Infantry Officer Courses, The Basic School, Lieutenant Colonel Cooper was assigned to 2d Battalion, 5th Marines and served as a rifle platoon commander, weapons platoon commander, rifle company executive officer and Commanding Officer, Company F. During this tour Lieutenant Colonel Cooper completed a deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Lieutenant Colonel Cooper then served consecutively as the Operations Officer and Executive Officer, Marine Corps Recruiting Station Orange, California.
In August 2001, Lieutenant Colonel Cooper was assigned to 2d Marine Division. Lieutenant Colonel Cooper first served as Commanding Officer, Company K, 3d Battalion, 8th Marines. During this tour Lieutenant Colonel Cooper completed an independent company deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Lieutenant Colonel Cooper then served as Commanding Officer, Headquarters Company, Headquarters Battalion, 2d Marine Division. Lieutenant Colonel Cooper was subsequently assigned to 2d Battalion, 8th Marines and served as the Operations Officer. During this tour he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Following graduation from Marine Corps Command and Staff College in June 2005, where he was awarded a Master of Military Studies, Lieutenant Colonel Cooper was assigned to Plans, Policies and Operations Department, Headquarters, Marine Corps. During this assignment Lieutenant Colonel Cooper served as a future operations officer in Current Operations Branch, Operations Division.
In July 2008, Lieutenant Colonel Cooper was transferred to II Marine Expeditionary Force and assigned to II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) as the Deputy Future Operations Officer, G-3. During this tour Lieutenant Colonel Cooper deployed to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Upon redeployment Lieutenant Colonel Cooper was assigned as a Future Operations Planner, G-3, II Marine Expeditionary Force.
Lieutenant Colonel Cooper’s personal awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with Gold Star in lieu of Second Award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with Gold Star in lieu of Second Award), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and Combat Action Ribbon.
Lieutenant Colonel Cooper is married to the former Elizabeth Coenen of Rayville, Louisiana. They have two children, Mackenzie (10) and Hudson (8).
SgtMaj Monssen
Sergeant Major Monssen was born on 17 August 1970 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After graduating Thomas Jefferson High School in June 1988, he reported to MCRD San Diego, California, for recruit training. Sergeant Major Monssen graduated in September as a Private First Class and received orders to Aviation Logistics School, Meridian, Mississippi. After completion of his primary MOS school, he proceeded to his first assignment, MCAS Tustin, California.
In December of 1988, Sergeant Major Monssen reported to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron Sixteen, Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, Third Marine Aircraft Wing, Tustin, California. During this time he was promoted to Lance Corporal and participated in a 13TH MEU West-Pac in 1989 with HMM-166 (Rein) aboard the USS Peleliu. Upon completion of his West-Pac, he deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm/Shield with the HMM-268 (Rein), 5th MEB aboard the USS New Orleans and was promoted to Corporal. In 1992 he deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia, in support of Operation Restore Hope with MAG-16 forward.
In March of 1993, Sergeant Major Monssen received orders to Marine Aircraft Group 42, Detachment Bravo. There he received his Aerial Observer/Gunner certification in the CH-46E Sea Knight.
On 1 March 1995 he was promoted to Sergeant, and in November of 1995 he attended the Sergeants’ Course at Quantico, Virginia. In April of 1996 he attended Drill Instructor School, MCRD San Diego, and upon graduation was assigned to Kilo Company, 3D Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, where he served as a Drill instructor and Senior Drill Instructor After Sergeant Major Monssen’s successful tour on the drill field, he was transferred Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron Eleven, Marine Aircraft Group Eleven, 3D Marine Aircraft Wing, Miramar, California. In September of 1998, he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.
In October of 2000 he reported to Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron One as an Inspector for the Aviation Wing Supply Assist Team. In January 2002 he was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant and attended the Advanced Course at Camp Pendleton, California. In June of 2002, Sergeant Major Monssen reported to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, Yuma, Arizona, as the Aviation Supply Chief/S-4 Chief. He was selected for First Sergeant in December of 2005. He was frocked 30 January 2006 and transferred to Battery G, 2D Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California as the Battery First Sergeant. In March 2006 he deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, with Regimental Combat Team 5 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon his return, Battery G was assigned to Battalion Landing Team 1/5 where he deployed with the 11th MEU from November 2007 to June of 2008 aboard the USS Tarawa. In February of 2009 Sergeant Major Monssen reported to Company I, Marine Combat Training Battalion, School of Infantry East as the company First Sergeant. Sergeant Major Monssen reported to Infantry Training Battalion on 29 March 2010.
Sergeant Major Monssen’s personal decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal 4 Gold Stars in lieu of 5th award, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal 1 Silver Star in lieu of 6th award, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.