Colonel John Cochran earned his commission into the United States Army by way of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC). Second Lieutenant Cochran subsequently attended flight school in Fort Rucker, AL where he graduated as an AH-64 Apache Helicopter pilot.

His first assignment was as a platoon leader in 3/6 Cavalry, Camp Humphrey’s Korea. Upon completion of his tour in Korea, he was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he served as a Battalion Staff Officer until his attendance at the Captain’s Career Course. In 2002, COL Cochran was assigned to the 11^th Aviation Regiment in Illeshiem, Germany where he commanded companies in both 6/6 and 2/6 Cavalry Squadrons and served on the 11^th Aviation regimental staff for the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the 12^th Combat Aviation Brigade deployment to Bagram, Afghanistan. In 2007 COL Cochran graduated from the Command and General Staff College and was assigned to the 4^th Battalion, 4^th Combat Aviation Brigade and served as both the XO and S3 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Camp Taji Iraq. Upon, redeployment he was assigned to the 21^st Cavalry Brigade, Fort Hood, TX where he served as the Brigade S3. In 2011, COL Cochran was assigned to the Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA) G-3/5/7 Aviation Directorate until his selection to battalion command of 3-159 ARB, 12^th Combat Aviation Brigade, Illeshiem Germany. While in battalion command, he deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield to Kuwait and then to Baghdad, Iraq for Operation Inherent Resolve in the war against ISIS. Following battalion command he was assigned to the HQDA G-8 aviation directorate until his selection to attend the Nation War College, Washington DC. In 2017 he was assigned to Joint Staff (J8) Forces Application Division. In 2018 he was assigned to the SECDEF Close Combat Lethality Task Force where he served as the Science, Technology, Innovation and Acquisitions Deputy Director of the Taskforce (CCLTF). Currently COL Cochran serves as the Acting Director of the CCLTF and the DoD AI for Small Unit Maneuver Executive Working Group.

COL Cochran is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College, and holds advanced degrees in both Business Administration from Webster University and National Security Strategy from the National War College.

COL Cochran is also a standing member on the Board of Directors for two Non-Profit Organizations; Operation Renewed Hope Foundation working to end Veteran Homelessness and The National Alliance to End Homelessness.

 COL Cochran is married to Crystal Cochran and has two sons Finley (13) and Grayson (11).