Rear Admiral Kyle Cozad graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1985. Cozad’s Navy career centered around aviation training and operations within the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Community serving extensively as an instructor pilot in a variety of operational and training tours around the world. During his career, he commanded at various levels within Naval Aviation and joint multi-service on five different assignments. Ashore, he served in a variety of diverse leadership positions within the Navy and Department of Defense to include serving as the 22nd Senior Director of the White House Situation Room; Commander, Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay, and Commander, Naval Training and Education Command.
Following a service-connected spinal cord injury in 2020, Cozad recovered and returned to full service, completing his final 30-months of active duty as Navy’s only wheelchair bound flag officer. During that time, he became an advocate for disability awareness and competed in the 2019 DOD Warrior Games. Prior to his retirement and Cozad was recognized as one of Department of Defense’s Top Employees with Disabilities in 2020. After a 35-year career in the Navy, Cozad joined the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation as the President and Chief Executive Officer in October 2020 where he resides today in Pensacola, Florida – affectionately known as “the Cradle of Naval Aviation.”
