Lieutenant Colonel Charles J, Cogger is a native of Bloomington, Minnesota.  He enlisted in the military in 1991 starting in the U.S. Army Reserves and subsequently the Minnesota Army National Guard.  He was commissioned as a Field Artillery (FA) Officer through the University of Minnesota ROTC in 1997 and received a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Upon completing the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, LTC Cogger was assigned to A/2-17 FA, 2d Infantry Division, Korea where he served as a Fire Direction Officer and Platoon Leader.  LTC Cogger was reassigned to 3-319th AFAR, 82d Airborne Division.  His duties included Company Fire Support Officer, B/1-504 PIR, and Battery Fire Direction Officer for C Battery.  LTC Cogger later became the Fire Control Officer, 82d Airborne Division Artillery (DIVARTY).  

After attending the Field Artillery Captain Career Course and Combined Arms Staff Service School, LTC Cogger was assigned to the 1st Armored DIVARTY, Baumholder, Germany as an Operations Officer.  While deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) 1-1.5, LTC Cogger served as the DIVARTY S5 (Civil Military Operations Officer) and Assistant S3 for 4-27 FA.  He later commanded B/4-27 FA and deployed Baghdad during OIF 05-07.  Afterward, LTC Cogger attended the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina and earned his International Master’s of Business Administration in Global Supply Chain and Operations Management.  He subsequently served as a Field Artillery Advisor for the Office of the Program Manager – Saudi Arabian National Guard (OPM-SANG), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Following the completion of the Command and General Staff College, LTC Cogger returned to the 82d Airborne Division and served as the Assistant Fire Support Coordinator (AFSCOORD) in the Joint Fires Cell and deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) 11-12.  While deployed, he transition to the Brigade Fire Support Officer, 4th Brigade Combat Team, and further served as Battalion Executive Officer, 2-321 FAR (Airborne). He subsequently was assigned as the Executive Officer for the 18th Fires Brigade (Airborne).  LTC Cogger transferred to JRTC and Fort Polk and served as the Field Artillery Battalion Operations Observer, Coach, Trainer (OC/T), Fire Support Division, Operations Group.  Until recently, LTC Cogger served as the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff (ACoS) G3/5/7 for JRTC and Fort Polk.

LTC Cogger’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC) Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC), the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal (X2), the Afghan Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal (X2), the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO/ISAF Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge, and Latvian Parachutist Badge.

Command Sergeant Major Stephen McCartney was born in East China, MI. CSM McCartney joined the Army in January, 1993 and shipped to Basic Training in March of 1993. He completed Basic Training and AIT at Ft. Sill, OK as a 13E Cannon Fire Direction Specialist. His first duty assignment was at Ft. Bragg, N.C. CSM McCartney was assigned to Recruiting duty in June of 1999. Prior to his selection to Recruiting he served as a Section Chief, Chief Fire Direction and Platoon Sergeant, with the Division Artillery 82nd ABN DIV, Ft. Bragg, NC.  

From 1999 to 2006 CSM McCartney was assigned to the Mount Clemens Recruiting Company as a Recruiter, OP Station Commander and LP Station Commander. In June of 2006 he was re-assigned as a Company Training Operations NCO with the Lansing Recruiting Company, Great Lakes Recruiting Battalion. In 2007 he was assigned as the Senior Guidance Counselor at the Lansing MEPS, Great Lakes Recruiting Battalion. In 2008 he was assigned to the Indianapolis Recruiting Battalion, Bloomington Recruiting Company First Sergeant position. In 2011 CSM McCartney moved to Oklahoma City Recruiting Battalion, Texarkana Recruiting Company as the Company First Sergeant. In 2013 he was selected to serve as the NCOIC of the USAREC G-3 EEPD Division H.Q. USAREC where he worked as the EEPD Policy NCOIC.  CSM McCartney was assigned to the Great Lakes recruiting Battalion in June of 2016 where he served as the Battalion Operations Sergeant Major. In January of 2017 CSM McCartney assumed the duty of the Command Sergeant Major of the Great Lakes Recruiting Battalion.

CSM McCartney is a graduate of the Army’s Basic Airborne Course, Air Assault Course, Tact Fire Support Course, Warriors Leaders Course, Family Medium Tactical Vehicle Course, the Advanced Leaders Course, Army Recruiter Course, Station Commander Course, Senior Leader Course, Guidance Counselor-Operation Course, DA First Sergeant Course and the Recruiting First Sergeant Course. CSM McCartney is a graduate of the USASMA Class 66.  CSM McCartney has a Bachelor of Science degree in Homeland Security from Vincennes University.

His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal with two Silver Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal (7th Award), the NCO Professional Development (5th device), Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Gold Recruiter Badge with 3 sapphires, the Recruiter Ring, Glenn E. Morrell Award and the Recruiting of Excellence Medallion.