Marshall Edward Cooney is a retired Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) of the U.S. Army, He entered basic training in 1992 and continued his military education and training. He began his career as a E-3 and enrolled into Arkansas Officer Candidate School where he earned the rank of Second Lieutenant in 1995. He was promoted through the ranks of First Lieutenant, Captain, Major and then Lieutenant Colonel. He is a highly decorated military veteran, including receipt of the Arkansas Military Cross Medal and the Valley Forge Award lifesaving awards, the Bronze Star, the Order of Mercury and the Legion of Merit. He mobilized in support of Operation Nobel Eagle/Armored Falcon from January 2003 to January 2005. In January 2011 he deployed to Tallil, Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn as the S6 “Senior Communications Officer” for the 77th Theater Aviation Brigade (77TH TAB). Assigned to the 77TH TAB’s staff, he performed in an outstanding manner during his deployment in Iraqi Joint Operations Area (IJOA).
His responsibilities as the brigade S6 and began building a diverse team capable of meeting each of the challenges validations for deploying during the mobilization process and checklist from MOB validators. Upon arrival into theater, He was tasked with establishing the Brigade’s communications over the strategic network in theater. Under his leadership the Signal team installed and maintained 325,000 feet of CAT 5 wiring in three separate facilities, and 270 plus computers and telephones; both NIPR and SIPR platforms with in the 77TH Brigade Headquarters. He and his team established and maintained the VUDU (help desk program) which provided operator level support to end users within the Brigade and Battalion and attached sections. After assuming the duties and responsibilities as the S6 he re-wrote the Signal Brigade Tactical Standard Operation (TACSOP) and Digital Rules of Engagement, to insure it integrated the Command Post of the Future (CPOF) assets, and supported the Brigade and subordinate Battalions.
His civilian career includes 10 years of Law Enforcement with the Arkansas State Police where he attained the rank of Corporal. While as a Trooper he was a Traffic Crash Reconstructionist. In 2006 he retired from the State Police as a Senior Corporal and was hired as a Federal Technician with the Marksmanship Training Center where he was the Schools Operations Officer. From 2007-2008 he served as the Sustainment Training Officer in charge of advance crew served weapons training, until he became the Camp Robinson Range Operations Officer and later as the Chief Operations Officer at Camp Robinson where he worked diligently to modernize and secure the training area of Camp Joseph T. Robinson. Upon his retirement from service, he was the Provost Marshal for the Arkansas National Guard where he concentrated on the safety and security of the Airman and Soldiers of the Arkansas National Guard and their missions by working with Local, State, and Federal Agencies to ensure the safety of its Airman and Soldiers and the Armories they occupied.
He graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 1996 and has a master’s degree in Human Resource Development and Computer Resources/Information Management from Webster University. He is also a graduate of the Signal Advance Course, the Command and General Staff College, ILE and numerous tactical and operational training courses. He has been a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity since April 18, 1990.