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 Mulkey began his military career after graduating from Pierce County High School in Blackshear, Georgia. After completing Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, SC and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, GA; he attended Airborne training at Fort Benning, GA. CSM Mulkey served as a Combat Signaler with the 1/39th Field Artillery BN, Fort Bragg, NC. He reclassified as a Multi-channel Transmission Systems Operator-Maintainer as a part of the 17th Signal BN Kitzigen, Germany. Before becoming the Operation SGM of the Great Lakes BN, his last duty assignment was a Division Chief at the Recruiting and Retention School Command Sergeant Major Mulkey served as the First Sergeant of both the Boston Medical Recruiting Company and the New York Medical Recruiting Company, and Station Commander for the Newburg Medical Recruiting Station for the 1st Medical Recruiting Battalion.

Other assignments include Instructor, Recruiting and Retention School at Fort Jackson, SC.; Master Trainer, Nashville Recruiting Battalion; and multiple assignments as a Station Commander in the Columbia and Jacksonville Recruiting Battalions.

Command Sergeant Major Mulkey is a graduate of the United States Army Sergeant’s Major Academy, Class 63. He also attended and graduated the Department of the Army First Sergeant Course at Fort Jackson, SC. In addition to his military education, he has earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Columbia Southern University in Orange, AL., CSM Mulkey is currently attending the University of Texas at El Paso in pursuit of a Masters in Leadership Studies.

His awards and decorations include the Parachutist Badge, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with six Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters, the Good Conduct Medal 9th award, the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism- Service Medal the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon 4th device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the U.S. Army Superior Unit Award..  He also earned the Army Recruiter Gold Badge with three sapphires, Army Recruiter Ring, and the coveted Glen E. Morrell award.