Capt. John Copeland is a native of Independence, Missouri. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in business administration from University of Missouri-Kansas City (2002), Master of Science in information and project management from Grantham University (2010), and Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies from U.S. Naval War College (2013).

His operational tours include service as a Radio Battalion Marine deployed to West Germany (1988) and Radio Reconnaissance team member assigned to 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) for two deployments (1991-1992); assistant intelligence officer aboard USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) deployed with 24 MEU for Joint Task Force Katrina (2005) and Commander Task Force 59’s Lebanon Noncombatant Evacuation Operation (2006); Special Operations Task Force-Southeast intelligence officer deployed with SEAL Team 2 and elements of 1st and 5th Special Forces Groups in Uruzgan, Afghanistan (2012); intelligence officer aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) for two deployments (2020-2021); and Carrier Strike Group 4’s intelligence assistant chief of staff performing mentorship, training and assessment for information warfare Sailors assigned to Carrier Strike Group 8 and Amphibious Squadron 6 (2021-2022).

Ashore, Copeland served as watch and training officer at Naval Ocean Processing Facility Dam Neck in Virginia Beach, Virginia (2003-2005); Information Technology director; Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance-Architecture Management (C4ISR-AM) instructor, and Operational Intelligence “C” school division officer at Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center (2007-2010); defensive cyber operations lead intelligence planner, Navy element executive officer and the intelligence director’s aide at U.S. Cyber Command (2014-2016); and intelligence mission readiness team lead at Naval Information Forces (2017-2019). He also commanded Information Warfare Training Command Virginia Beach (2022-2024).

From August 2024 to December 2025, Copeland was intelligence director for U.S. Fleet Cyber Command, Navy Space Command, Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber (Navy) and 10th Fleet at Fort Meade, Maryland. He reported to Center for Information Warfare Training at Corry Station in Pensacola, Florida, as commanding officer in January 2026.

His personal awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (three), Navy Commendation Medal (three), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three), and Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (two).

Last Updated: 20 January 2026