Meet the new MSG commander, Airmen's biggest fan

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Magen M. Reeves
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  When Col. Denise L. Cooper entered the Air Force over 20 years ago, rising into the position of the 341st Mission Support Group commander was not on the list of priorities.

Cooper now has five squadrons under her command here; the 341st Civil Engineer Squadron, 341st Communications Squadron, 341st Logistics Readiness Squadron, 341st Force Support Squadron and the 341st Contracting Squadron.

Cooper greets those who enter her office with a cheerful smile, a friendly hand-shake and, "Welcome to Malmstrom!"

The MSG commander's office can be found in Building 500. Cooper keeps her office warm and welcoming, where guests awaiting her attention can sit in plush bright yellow armchairs decorated with Air Force pillows.

"Command is a privilege," said Cooper.

Cooper took command on June 25, 2015, after moving to Malmstrom, but has only truly been in the seat of command here for 30 days.

"After I got here I was here for a few weeks, took leave, then was on TDY, so really I've been in command since Monday," said Cooper with a warm smile, a clear mug of hot green tea balanced in her hand.

Since her return, Cooper has been a very hard Airman to get ahold of. Being the new MSG commander, people want to know more about who she is as an Airman, as a commander and why she joined the Air Force.

"I say the better question is 'why do you stay in the Air Force?'" said Cooper with a laugh.

Cooper joined the Air Force planning to serve her four years and then go to work in Washington, D.C.

"I honestly thought that was what I was going to do," said Cooper. "I thought I would get some experience serving my country and then maybe work for a congressman; doing the thinking work for a congressional member."

Obviously, somewhere along the way, she changed her mind.

"I fell in love with the honor inherent in the profession of arms," said Cooper. "I fell in love with the Air Force."

Being the MSG commander at Malmstrom, Cooper's mission is to provide problem-solving support to the base, take care of Airmen and strengthen strategic deterrence within the nuclear mission.

"The mission here is very important," said Cooper. "It's very different here than at other bases because of the responsibility to our national security strategy and posture. Malmstrom has the world's most powerful weapon and it's my job to make sure that the people who assume that responsibility are taken care of. I am willing to do what I ask people to do. I will get my hands dirty."

The mission at Malmstrom operates at a critical level 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. And Cooper is enthusiastic in making sure that every Airman under her command understands their role in mission capability.

"That's one of my goals and one of the things that I'm going to be looking for as the new commander; is to see if the Airmen in the MSG know what their part to play in the mission is, and how critical their response and understanding is," said Cooper. "Say there was, hopefully there isn't, but say there was, a natural disaster to strike the base. Eighty-five percent of the solution to the problems would fall of the squadrons of the MSG. I'm responsible for ensuring that Airmen understand what it is that they do here and how that role is critical. As soon as I can, I want to go to the various units on base and ask the Airmen, 'do you know what it is you do, and why you do it?' Teamwork, enthusiasm and positivity bring solutions."

The MSG has a huge responsibility to Airmen morale and readiness.

"We consider the MSG the mayor of the base," said Cooper. "When something is going wrong here on base, people come to us for solutions."

According to Cooper, MSG has the contracting squadron, which approves purchasing contracts for all the things the base needs. The civil engineer squadron powers the base with energy and provides clean water and safe roads as well as the fire department and explosive ordinance disposal. The force support squadron is a very diverse squadron which takes care of members, families and retirees. Logistics readiness squadron handles fuels, vehicles and weapons related material. And the communications squadron runs the computer network here on base, along with cell phones, and all the other information technology that runs the base.

"Whether it be Airman and family readiness or child care and development, what's important is that no matter what, Malmstrom would be able to respond. And that's one of the things I'm going to be focused on; ensuring that the base remains mission capable and ready to support the strategic nuclear mission."

Cooper brings an immense amount of experience to Malmstrom. With over 20 years of working knowledge and two deployments to utilize, there's no part of being a commander Cooper isn't ready to take head on.

"I was deployed once to the Southern Italy," said Cooper, "but what I really learned from was my deployment to Oman."

From November 2010 to May 2011 Cooper served as a deployed commander for an expeditionary support squadron at Thumrait Air Base, Oman, a country which rests between the border of Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Sea.

"I learned the most from that deployment," said Cooper. "I was living in a tent down range, helping to bring the fight. That's what I hope to bring to Malmstrom; providing the strength and support to the strategic defense."

In addition to the wealth of knowledge Cooper has gained over the years just by ensuring the job gets done, she is also a 2015 graduate of the Air War College and holds a Ph.D. in organizational behavior and human resource management.

Cooper says she was thrilled to be coming to Malmstrom.

"When I found out I was coming to Malmstrom, I felt like I had gotten very lucky," said Cooper. "I've only ever heard good things about Malmstrom. Montana is a beautiful state. When I arrived here with my family, all of the group commanders and the wing commander greeted us. I got to meet a lot of the community leaders with that pioneer-spirit, down to earth mentality; nice people. And then I met the squadron and they reached out to my daughter and to my husband in a way that said family. So it was awesome."

Cooper is grateful that Malmstrom was so warm and welcoming to her and her family.

"The Key Spouses Program and volunteer really welcomed my daughter and husband," said Cooper. "I'm excited to work with and support the Key Spouses Program in the future. I'm also excited about the opening of a new Airman and Family Readiness Center hopefully in September."

Cooper is married to husband Scott, who is a small business owner with a master's degree in special education. Scott's resiliency and commitment to the marriage has it made it so that Cooper can focus on the mission and trust that the home is taken care of, for which Cooper is very grateful.

"My husband and my daughter are as much Airmen as any other Airman here on base," said Cooper. "This is a very difficult lifestyle to adjust to and they have. They are resilient."

The support shown to her and her family here has made the transition easy; especially for Scott and 5-year-old daughter Jenna.

"In addition to his professional life, Scott does a lot of work in our home," said Cooper. "I can focus on the mission. We really divide and conquer. He is an amazing father and my best friend. Scott carries an extra load so I can put all my focus and all my energy into taking care of my Airmen."

Cooper remains humble.

"I like to be open to new ideas and empower those you lead," said Cooper. "Don't take yourself too seriously. I am not an expert in what my Airmen do in their units. I need their expertise. I need Airmen feedback. The team is the key focus area in mission excellence. I believe in a transformational leadership style that appeals to heart, mind, Airmen's needs and long-term goals. And I want to know my Airmen. I am their biggest fan."