culture and society | January 14, 2026

Who is General William Cooley's sister-in-law? What did William Cooley do?

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General Wlliam Cooley

General William Cooley is a United States military commander who has been found guilty after being charged with abusive sexual contact against a woman believed to be his sister-in-law.

The reported incident is said to have occurred after a family barbecue. He is the first general officer in US Air Force history to be court-martialed.

What did William Cooley do?

Cooley was charged with three counts of sexual assault and faced a court-martial in April 2022. On April 23, 2022, Cooley was found guilty of abusive sexual contact for forcibly kissing his sister-in-law after a family barbecue. He is the first general officer in US Air Force history to be court-martialed.

Who is General William Cooley’s sister-in-law?

The actual identity of William Cooley’s sister-in-law has not been disclosed to the public. That could possibly be an attempt by the military to protect her and even her husband from any harm by the public.