Sean Cooper, Commander, USN
Executive Officer | Aviation Warfare Officer: sean.cooper@yale.edu
Commander Cooper “Torch” is a native of Hamilton, Massachusetts. He received his commission in 2005 through the Navy ROTC program at Boston University after earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics. He was selected for flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in May of 2007.
He began his fleet operational tours as Detachment ONE Administrative Officer, Schedules Officer, Detachment FIVE Operations Officer, and Detachment ONE Maintenance Officer with the “Warlords” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 51, homeported at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan. As part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces, he deployed to 7th Fleet area of responsibility aboard USS Mustin (DDG 89), USS McCampbell (DDG 85), and USS Lassen (DDG 82), including flying relief mission in Operation TOMODACHI following the Sendai earthquake of 2011. During his time with the “Warlords” the squadron twice received the Naval Air Force, Pacific Battle “E” award. For his second sea tour, he was assigned to Carrier Strike Force Training Pacific, which was redesignated as Carrier Strike Group FIFTEEN (CSG-15) during his tour. While assigned to CSG-15, he served as Sea Combat Syndicate Helicopter Mentor, Operational Risk Management Mentor, and Staff Safety Officer, and qualified as Command Duty Officer, Underway onboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). During his department head tour at the “Wolf Pack” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 75, he served as Aviation Safety Officer, Safety Department Head, Detachment Officer in Charge, and Squadron Maintenance Officer, deploying to the 5th Fleet area of responsibility on board USS Princeton (CG 59) as a part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group. During his tour with the “Wolf Pack” the squadron was recognized with the Battle “E” Award, and he was selected as the squadron’s 2018 Officer of the Year. He currently serves as the Force Protection Officer and Future Operations Officer on the staff of Carrier Strike Group ONE.
Ashore, he served as an Instructor Pilot with the “Seahawks” of HSM-41, the Navy’s west coast MH-60R Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) and Model Manager. He served as the Ground Safety Officer, Aircraft Division Officer, and Curriculum Officer, managing the syllabus for both east and west coast FRS operations, and developing the tailored syllabus for the Foreign Military Sales training of Royal Danish Navy aircrews in the MH-60R. He also served as Wing Safety Officer for Commander, Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing Pacific, administering the Wing’s Safety Management System covering eleven subordinate squadrons spread across San Diego, CA, Kaneohe Bay, HI, and Atsugi, Japan. During his tenure the Wing experienced the safest year in its history, with no Class “A” mishaps, no Class “B” mishaps, and only two Class “C” mishaps.
His personal military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three). He has accumulated over 2,500 total flight hours, predominantly in the SH-60B and MH-60R aircraft.
Nick Gioia, Lieutenant, USN
Surface Warfare Officer | nicholas.gioia@yale.edu
Lieutenant Nick Gioia was born in southern California and raised in Medford, Oregon. He graduated with honors from the University of Oregon in 2017, where he double-majored in Political Science and Russian Studies. In 2018, he was commissioned through Officer Candidate School as a Surface Warfare Officer.
For his first tour, he served as the Strike Warfare Officer onboard USS COLE (DDG-67) out of Norfolk, Virginia. Following this, he served as the Damage Control Assistant onboard the forward-deployed minesweeper USS PATRIOT (MCM-7), homeported in Sasebo, Japan. While onboard PATRIOT, he supported six multinational exercises in the Seventh Fleet area of responsibility. In 2022, he was selected as the Mine Countermeasures Squadron Seven Junior Officer Tactician of the Year.
Lieutenant Gioia reported to the Naval ROTC Unit at Yale University as the Surface Warfare Officer in February, 2024.
Lieutenant Gioia’s personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and other unit and campaign awards.
In 2021, Lieutenant Gioia married his wife, Caitlyn Gioia of Chincoteague Island, Virginia. They live with their cat, River, in Branford, CT.
Paige miles, Lieutenant, USN
Submarine Warfare Officer | Nuclear Power Officer: paige.miles@yale.edu
Paige Miles is originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Economics. During her time at the Academy, she played varsity volleyball. After graduation, she completed submarine officer training, including Naval Nuclear Power School, the Naval Prototype Training Unit, and the Submarine Officer Basic Course. Paige has served in multiple roles aboard the USS OHIO (SSGN 726) during a major maintenance period at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. She also completed a strategic deterrence patrol on the USS NEVADA (SSBN 733) and a theater anti-submarine warfare deployment aboard the USS SEAWOLF (SSN 21). Currently, she serves as the Quality Assurance Officer and Sea Trials Coordinator aboard the USS OHIO. Paige is qualified in Submarines and as a Professional Nuclear Engineer Officer.
Sumer N. Johnson, Captain, USMC
Marine Officer Instructor | sumer.johnson@yale.edu
Sumer was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas. She enlisted in the Arkansas Army National Guard in May of 2010 while attending Henderson State University. As a drilling member of the National Guard, she reported to the 216th Military Police Guard Company in North Little Rock , Arkansas . Upon completing her undergraduate degree and completing Army Reserve
Officer Training Corps commissionioning requirements , she commisioned as a Second Lietenant in the Army as a 31A Military Police Officer.
After completion of the Military Police Basic Officer Leadership Course, she received orders to Headquarters Company , United States Army Garrison at Fort Irwin, California . From 2013 to 2015 she served as a Military Police Platoon Leader primarily responsible for law enforcement duties . In 2015, Sumer transferred to the 16th Military Police Brigade at Fort Liberty, North Carolina to serve as the Executive Officer for Headquarters and Service Company. While at Fort Liberty, Sumer completed Air Assault School.
In 2016 , Sumer left Active Duty to begin studying at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in Malibu, California focusing on estate planning where she earned her Juris Doctor. Sumer worked as a judicial extern for the Honorable Nancy J. Koppe , United States Magistrate for the Southern District of Nevada , and Beaumont Tashjian in Woodland Hills, California primarily handling bankruptcy matters until reporting for Officer Candidate School. In September 2020, Sumer reported to Officer Candidate School. Upon graduation , she executed temporary duty at the Nashville , Tennessee Officer Selection Office and reported to The Basic School in May 2021. Sumer reported to her current command and assumed her duties as the Battalion Adjutant in May 2022 .
JOHNNY H. GRAY, STAFF SERGEANT, USMC
Assistant Marine Officer Instructor | johnny.gray@yale.edu
Staff Sergeant Gray was born on 1 December 1992 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 8 August 2011 and reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) at Parris Island, South Carolina for training with Company H, Second Recruit Training Battalion. Upon graduation, he attended Infantry Training Battalion (ITB) at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Following completion of ITB he attended Military Occupational School at Naval Support Activity Northwest Annex Chesapeake, Virginia Basic Security Guard Course (8152).
In April 2012, Private First Class Gray received orders to Marine Corps Security Force Regiment in Norfolk, Virginia. In May 2012, he was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. In June of 2012, Lance Corporal Gray deployed as a team leader to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In January of 2013, Lance Corporal Gray deployed to Bahrain. In December of 2013, Lance Corporal Gray received orders to 2ND battalion 9TH Marines, in Second Marine Division Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
In March of 2014, Lance Corporal Gray was promoted to the rank of Corporal. In May of 2014, Corporal Gray attended Corporals course in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In August of 2014, Corporal Gray deployed to Okinawa, Japan for A UDP. During that deployment he participated in Phiblex 2015 with the Philipino Marine Corps. In April of 2015 2ND Battalion 9TH Marines was disbanded, Corporal Gray then received orders to Headquarters Battalion, Second Marine Division G3 where he was appointed as the schools NCO for the whole division. Upon submitting for reenlistment in 2015, Corporal Gray lateral moved to the MOS Career Planner (4821). He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in December 2015.
In January of 2016, Sergeant Gray attended Basic Career Planner Course in San Diego, California. In July 2016, Sergeant Gray received orders to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3D Marine Air Wing. In October 2016, Sergeant Gray received orders to VMA-311 as the unit Career Planner. In January 2017, Sergeant Gray deployed to Iwakuni, Japan in support of the 31ST Marine Expeditionary Unit as the Aviation Combat Element. In April of 2017, Sergeant Gray attended Sergeants Course in Okinawa, Japan where he graduated as the Gung Ho recipient.
In January 2019, Sergeant Gray received orders to Marine Aircraft Group 13 University where he was a Corporals Course and Lance Corporal Leadership and Ethics Seminar Instructor. In July 2019, Sergeant Gray received orders to Drill Instructor School MCRD San Diego and graduated September 2019.
In November 2019, Sergeant Gray reported to 1st Recruit Battalion, Bravo Company as a Drill instructor. He attended Marine Corps Instructor Water Survival in December 2019 and Graduated February 2020. Staff Sergeant Gray was promoted to his current Rank in November 2020. Staff Sergeant Gray completed 7 cycles as a Drill Instructor and then reported to Instructional Training Company in December 2021 to train recruits as A MCIWS. In February 2022 Staff Sergeant Gray assumed the billet of Chief Instructor at the MCRD Swim Tank. While at the Swim Tank he played a key role in the development of the Marine Corps Swim Pilot program from TECOM.
In September 2022, Staff Sergeant Gray was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 14 as the Career Planner SNCOIC. While assigned to MAG 14, Staff Sergeant Gray supported units across Cherry Point overseeing the sundown of the last 8V-8B Harrier units and standing up F-35 Squadrons. In October 2023, Staff Sergeant Gray attended Advanced Career Planner course in San Diego, California.
In April 2025, Staff Sergeant Gray received orders to Yale University where he currently serves as an Assistant Marine Officer Instructor.
Staff Sergeant Gray’s personal awards include the Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Staff Sergeant Gray is happily married to the former Pamela Escobar and has three children, Valentina E. Gray Escobar, Julianna C. Gray Escobar, and Phoebe Gray Escobar.