Cole Welcomes Defense Fellow Ben Cohen to D.C. Office
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) announced the addition of Captain Ben Cohen to his Washington, D.C. office to serve as a defense fellow until the end of this year as part the Department of Defense Legislative Fellow Program.
By trade, Captain Cohen is an Army Ranger Qualified Field Artillery Officer specializing in joint fires integration and arctic airborne operations. He received training, including completion of the Basic Officer Leadership Course, Collateral Damage Assessment and Joint Fires Observer in 2014 and the Captains Career Course in 2018, both at the Fourth District's Fort Sill. Cohen received a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and a Master's in Public Administration from Norwich University and will complete a Master's in Professional Studies in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University in May 2023.
"I am delighted to welcome Ben to my team and look forward to having his knowledge and experience on defense related matters," said Cole. "The Department of Defense Legislative Fellow Program is a terrific way for him to sharpen his skills and learn the legislative process, and I look forward to seeing what he learns and his growth throughout this year. I know he will serve the Fourth District well during his time in my office."
"It is an absolute honor to have this distinguished opportunity, and it is not one I take lightly," said Captain Cohen. "I am excited to represent the Army and work with Representative Cole and his incredible team - Lawton, Fort Sill and Oklahoma are a second home for me."
About the Fellowship
The Department of Defense Legislative Fellow Program is a highly competitive program for top performing select service members and civilian employees to provide them with an in-person legislative experience. The program is executed by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, who coordinates with the military departments to determine office placement.
Chosen from numerous high performing applicants, fellows are vetted by their respective services, selecting those whom the departments feel would best represent the military to members of Congress and their staff. Eligible congressional offices are invited to apply for the program in August with a requested response in September and receive notification of selection November through December. Selected fellows begin their work in congressional offices for a period of no longer than one calendar year beginning each January.
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