The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major James C. Cooper, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as F-15E Instructor Weapon Systems Officer, 492d Fighter Squadron, 48th Operations Group, 48th Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England on 19 March 2011. On this night, Major Cooper flew as number two of a four-ship F-15E formation during the first night of Operation Odyssey Dawn. With nominal intelligence data regarding the location and disposition of Libyan air defenses or hostile ground forces , his formation penetrated multiple known strategic surface-to-air missile threats to execute a tactical plan designed to draw the attention of the Libyan Integrated Air Defense System. Almost immediately, Major Cooper’s aircraft was targeted by a mobile tactical surface-to-air missile system, and then by aimed anti-aircraft artillery fire which both required skillful and timely threat reactions to defeat the grave danger to his aircraft. Disregarding his own safety, Major Cooper turned back into the active threat envelopes and was able to track and positively identify a mobile missile system. He then established an orbit within lethal range of the threats in order to track and pass target information to the formation while simultaneously scanning the area for additional targets. Subsequently Major Cooper located, targeted and destroyed two additional mobile missile systems and two support vehicles while his aircraft was continuously harassed by additional aimed anti-aircraft artillery fire. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Major Cooper reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.