Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, then the No. 2 at US Central Command (CENTCOM), is leading the joint US-Israeli war effort against Iran. Cooper, who was responsible for coming up with a plan to combat the Houthis and former commander of the Navy’s Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain, navigated the Red Sea with the command of officers far junior to himself. Two years later, he is in charge of Central Command, leading the military campaign against Iran, which has resulted in the death of 13 American service members and injury of 140 wounded. Despite this, sources attribute Cooper's ability to navigate both the contested waters of the Middle East and Washington, as well as his political instincts. Since taking over in August 2025, Cooper is just the second Navy admiral to lead CENTCOM.