Chief Warrant Officers 4 Mike Cooper is a native of Hickory, North Carolina. He followed in his father and grandfather's footsteps enlisting in the Army on August 13, 1997, as an aircraft electrician.
CW4 Cooper's initial entry training included basic training, the aircraft electrician course and Airborne school. He was then assigned to 2/82 AVN 82nd Airborne Division. He deployed with the 82nd to Afghanistan in 2002. In 2003, CW4 Cooper reclassified to Psychological Operations, attended the Special Operation Language Training for Persian Farsi and then assessed for the Psychological Operations Ranger Detachment. While in the Ranger Detachment, Cooper served as a team leader and assistant detachment sergeant. He deployed twice with Ranger Regiment, once in 2004 and again in 2005.
During this last deployment, Cooper realized the impact he could have on mission success as a helicopter pilot. Shortly after returning from OEF in January 2006, Cooper applied to Warrant Officer Flight Training. CW4 Cooper graduated from Warrant Officer Flight Training at Ft. Rucker AL. in 2008 as a UH60A/L pilot. He was assigned to 4-101, 159th CAB at Ft. Campbell, KY. where he qualified in the UH60M. CW4 Cooper deployed two more times with 4-101 to Afghanistan in 2008-2009 and in 2011-2012. He attended both the UH60L and UH60M Maintenance test pilot courses in 2012 as well as the Aviation Maintenance Officer Course.
Cooper was then assigned to 2/82 AVN 82nd Airborne Division as a Maintenance Test Pilot. He deployed again to Afghanistan in his role as an MTP. CW4 Cooper then served as an Aviation Warrant Officer Advance Course (AWOAC) Instructor at Ft. Rucker. Upon completion of his duties as an AWOAC Instructor Mike then became the Quality Assurance OIC at 2-2 Assault Battalion, 2nd CAB, 2ID at K16 South Korea. While there, Cooper oversaw the fielding and transition of the UH60M helicopter. Currently, Cooper is stationed at 12th AVN BN, The Army Aviation Brigade (TAAB), Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. Cooper has served as the Battalion Aviation Maintenance Officer (BAMO) and is now the Senior Warrant Officer Advisor (SWOA) to the Battalion Commander.
In concert with working as a Maintenance Test Pilot (MTP) and becoming an MTP Examiner, Cooper perused his civilian education attaining an associate degree from Fayetteville Technical Community College. CW4 Cooper’s Warrant Officer professional military education includes Warrant Officer Basic Course, Aviation Warrant Officer Advance Course, and Warrant Officer Intermediate Level Education. CW4 Cooper has also attended Airborne, Jumpmaster, Pathfinder US. Army Recruiter Course, and the Mobile Force Protection Course.