Colonel Sam Cook, USMC, has served at the National War College since July 2021. His previous assignment was as the Deputy Commander, Marine Forces Korea. An artillery officer, Col Cook has served in a variety of command and staff assignments at the Combatant Command Service Headquarters, and Operational level and served three combat tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve. He was commissioned into the Marine Corps in 1992 from the United States Naval Academy and holds a Masters in Strategic Studies from the Army War College and a Masters in Military History from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.