R. Clarke Cooper was confirmed by the Senate as Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs on April 30, 2019.
Immediately prior to taking on his present role in the Trump Administration, Mr. Cooper served as the Director of Intelligence Planning for Joint Special Operations Command’s Joint Inter-Agency Task Force – National Capital Region.
Mr. Cooper brings to Political-Military Affairs over two decades of experience in both diplomatic and military roles. In the Bush Administration, Mr. Cooper served as U.S. Alternate Representative to the United Nations Security Council, U.S. Delegate to United Nations Administrative and Budgetary Committee, Senior Advisor in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, and Advisor at U.S. Embassy-Baghdad. His active duty military assignments include tours with Joint Special Operations Command, U.S. Africa Command, Special Operations Command Africa, Joint Special Operations Task Force Trans-Sahara, and Special Operations Command Central. An outdoor enthusiast, he served as an Assistant Director of the National Park Service early in his career, and attained the rank of Eagle Scout in his youth.
Mr. Cooper is a graduate of The Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in history, and he maintains a field grade commission with the U.S. Army Reserve. He is married to fellow combat veteran, Michael Marin.