Chad James Copeland joined the Army in 1992 and was initially assigned as an 11B infantryman with the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, GA. He later served as a Presidential Escort with the 3rd Infantry Regiment, escorting Presidents Bush and Clinton. In 1994, he accepted a commission as a warrant officer and became an OH-58 helicopter pilot stationed in Korea. His subsequent assignments included serving as an AH-64 attack helicopter pilot deployed to Bosnia and Egypt, and as a UH-60 maintenance officer with the Connecticut National Guard deployed to Kuwait and Iraq. He joined the Florida Army National Guard in 2009 and received his first direct commission, holding positions such as assistant S3 and platoon leader.