Captain John C. Cochrane, Jr. was born in Bay Shore, New York. Upon graduation from Bay Shore Public Schools, he attended Jacksonville University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in General Business and was commissioned through Naval Reserve Officer Training (NROTC) in April 1982.
Captain Cochrane’s sea duty assignment was onboard the USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) where he served as Fourth Division Officer, First Division Officer and Fire Control Main Battery Officer. His shore duty assignment was Aegis Training center, Dahlgren, VA., where he served as a Technical Instructor for the Aegis Combat System.
His first reserve assignment was Training Officer for Convoy Command, Naples Det 102. His next assignment was the successful formation of a new reserve unit for USS GETTYSBURG (CG-64) where he served as Gaining Command Liaison Officer. Captain Cochrane was selected as REDCOM TWO Reserve Officer Association (ROA) Junior Officer of the year in 1992. He then was assigned as Commanding Officer of NR AFDL-6-Det 102 and Executive Officer of Readiness Unit 1602 in Amityville, New York. Captain Cochrane was selected as REDCOM FOUR Naval Reserve Association (NRA) Junior Officer of the Year in 1994.
Captain Cochrane then assumed command of Mobile Mine AssemblyGroup Five in Albany, New York. His unit was awarded REDCOM One Readiness Award and Letter of Commendation from the Secretary of Navy. He was activated by the New York Naval Militia to be an Liaison to the TWA Flight 800 Recovery Command. In October 1997, Captain Cochrane assumed duties as Operation Officer (J3), Commander Strike Fleet Atlantic. The unit was awarded the Leo Bilger Award.
In the fall of 2000, he was assigned as the Administrative Officer in NAVSEA PMS 102 unit in Washington DC. Captain Cochrane commanded FFG 39 Augment Bravo in October 2001 and assumed command of Military Sealift Command Northern Persian Gulf Detachment 102, Bronx, N Y in 2003. Served as Commanding Officer, Military Sealift Command Expeditionary Port Unit 106, Baltimore, MD. In October 2007 he was mobilized as Commanding Officer MSCO Kuwait in support of OIF, Presently serving as Chief Staff Officer, Commander Second Fleet, Expanded Missions Unit, Norfolk VA. Captain Cochrane’s decorations include: Legion of Merit(Gold Star), Meritorious Service Medal (Gold Star), Navy Commendation Medal Fourth Award, Army Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (Gold Star), Two Navy Unit Commendations and Navy Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.
Captain Cochrane resides in Brightwaters, New York with his wife, the former Kathryn Ann O’Connor of Allendale, New Jersey. They have two sons, John Campbell and Connor James.