Delaware National
Guard
Cooke returns to hometown,
takes command of Co. A, 280thBy Maj. Jane F. Zak, 261st Signal Brigade Public Affairs Officer
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Capt. Joseph Cooke accepts the company flag and command of the unit . |
Capt. Joseph Cooke assumed command of Company A, 280th Signal Battalion in a formal ceremony at the Seaford Armory on July 20th. Cooke, who began his military career in 1989 as an enlisted soldier in Company A, finally returned to his hometown to serve as commander of the unit.
After finishing high school in Seaford in 1989, Cooke enlisted in the Delaware National Guard as a Communications Security (COMSEC) Equipment Repairman in Company A, 280th. He was recognized as the honor graduate of his Advanced Individual Training (AIT) class, and, upon his return to Seaford, was nominated Soldier of the Year, representing Company A. He continued to serve at the unit throughout his undergraduate schooling at Delaware State College. In 1994, Cooke enrolled in Officer Candidate School (OCS) Class #39 and graduated in August 1996 as the Distinguished Honor Graduate. As a lieutenant, Cooke served as both the Area Node and Cable Platoon Leader in Company B. After promotion to captain, he served for one year as the S-1 of the 198th Signal Battalion, and effective this month, assumed command of Company A.
Cooke said that he joined the Delaware National Guard to continue a family legacy. Both of his grandfathers served proudly in the Navy, and members of his immediate family serve in all branches of the military. Cooke originally had intended to join the Marine Corps upon completion of high school; however, he joined the Delaware National Guard when he realized it afforded him the opportunity to serve in his hometown of Seaford, while attaining his undergraduate degree at Delaware State College.Cooke has completed the Signal Corps Officer Basic Course (SOBC) and the Pre-command Course (company level). He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and Engineering from Delaware State College and a Master of Science degree in Physics from the State University of New York. Additionally, he holds certifications in the following areas: CISCO Certified Network Association (CCNA), CISCO Network Academy Instructor Training Program, Microsoft Certification in System Engineering (MCSE), and VBA Programming.
Cooke accepted a full-time position with the Delaware National Guard in January 2002. He currently works as the Information Management Branch Chief at State Headquarters.