Colonel Coccio graduated from St. Leo College with a Bachelor of Science Degree. She also holds a Master of Arts Degree in Acquisition and Contract Manger from Florida Institute of Technology, Master of Strategic Studies from the Army War College, Doctorate of Business Administration from Corllins University and is a Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM).

PFC Karen Coccio enlisted in Sep 1978 and graduated from OCS in 1985.  Early in her career, Colonel Coccio was a Supply Platoon Leader with the Maintenance Company in Richmond, Virginia.  She served 5 ½ years in Michigan in Adjutant General and Quartermaster Positions ending that tour of duty as the S-3 Operations Officer.  She then served in Fort Eustis as the S-4 Supply Officer of 1st Battalion, 8830 USA One Station Unit Training (OSUT) then the Commander of C Company as a Military Police Officer.  The next year and a half was spent as the Battalion S-1 with the 359th Transportation Battalion, 310th Theater Support Command.  In September 1999 she returned to Richmond, Virginia, to serve as the Brigade Adjutant with 8th Brigade, Senior ROTC, 80th Division.  After serving as a Contracting Management Officer with the 9th Sustainment Command at Fort Belvoir she served as Joint Logistics Observer/Trainer for Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, VA.  In December of 2006 she was transferred to the 1st Sustainment Command Theater, Fort Bragg, NC and deployed to Kuwait with them as a Logistics Officer, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. Colonel Coccio was the 1st commander of the 915th Support Battalion Contingency Contracting. She retired after serving as the Brigade commander of the 2nd BGE (TC), 94th Div (FS) in 2016 in Harrisburg, PA.

Colonel Coccio’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medals, Army Commendation Medals and Army Achievement Medals.

Karen followed her active duty husband LTC Robert Stump (deceased) in his career working for the Federal Government in Contracting.  She retired as a civil servant after 38 years in contracting, her last assignment was with Veteran Administration in Hampton.  Colonel Coccio has 3 married daughters Jennifer (California), Jessie (Iowa), Jasmine (Virginia) and 5 grandchildren.