Mark Cooper (Louisiana)
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Is this person no longer a chief of staff? Please contact us with any updates. |
| Mark Cooper | |
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| Basic facts | |
| Organization: | John Bel Edwards gubernatorial administration |
| Role: | Chief of staff |
| Location: | Baton Rouge, La. |
| Education: | Louisiana State University |
Mark Cooper is a public safety and political consultant operating in the state of Louisiana. As of April 2021, he was the chief of staff for Gov. John Bel Edwards (D). Cooper was announced as Edwards' chief of staff in February 2017, taking over for longtime Edwards advisor Ben Nevers.[1][2]
Career
Education and early career
After receiving a bachelor's degree in business at Louisiana State University, Cooper went on to earn a master's degree from LSU in public administration. His early career was spent in public safety in Los Angeles, California, first with the county coroner and then with the fire and police departments. He worked in Los Angeles from 1991 until 2008, finishing as the deputy fire chief for Los Angeles County.[3] According to Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Cooper's time with Los Angeles County included work in emergency preparation: "While with Los Angeles County, Cooper developed emergency plans and programs to support the Department's role in the County's Emergency Operations Center while serving as a member of the Emergency Management Council subcommittee and representing the Fire Chief. He also helped lead an LA County team deployed to New Orleans for four weeks in response to Hurricane Katrina to assist with continuity of Government and mass fatality management."[4]
Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
In 2008, Cooper returned to Louisiana to work as the executive director of the office of homeland security and emergency preparedness under former Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-La.). According to The Advocate, while in this position, "Cooper managed the state's response during hurricanes Gustav and Ike and the BP oil spill, among other disasters."[5]
Walmart
Cooper stepped down from the office of homeland security in 2011 to work as the senior director of global emergency management at Walmart. According to the Earthquake Country Alliance, Cooper's departments at Walmart were "responsible for the company’s security analytical services, business continuity efforts, preparedness (including public/private partnerships), emergency response and operations, and recovery." He helped to coordinate the company's responses to Hurricanes Ike, Isaac, and Sandy.[6]
John Bel Edwards chief of staff
On February 2, 2017, Gov. John Bel Edwards (D-La.) announced that Cooper would take over as chief of staff for Ben Nevers, who left the administration to serve in the private sector. In the announcement, Edwards said that Cooper "brings a wealth of knowledge about our state to this role, and I know he'll be an invaluable asset to our state. Mark's managerial experience will be useful as we continue to lead Louisiana to a path to prosperity."[1][7]
Chief of staff
- See also: Gubernatorial chiefs of staff
In 2017, Ballotpedia identified Mark Cooper (Louisiana) as a gubernatorial chief of staff. A chief of staff is the lead staff member of an administration and is responsible for implementing the governor's agenda.
The role is both a managerial and advisory position, although specific duties vary by administration. The chief of staff typically has the following responsibilities, according to the National Governors Association (NGA):[8]
- Control access to the governor and manage the governor's calendar;
- Monitor the flow of information to the governor on policy issues;
- Oversee gubernatorial Cabinet and staff; and
- Manage and communicate the governor's policy agenda to the state legislature and the public.
In terms of policymaking, the NGA notes that a chief of staff is responsible for bringing policy and communications together: "The chief is responsible for overseeing the development of the governor’s policy agenda. The policy director or advisor is typically responsible for shaping the general concepts and specific details of the agenda with input from the communications director, policy staff and cabinet members. The chief often must take charge and bring the pieces together coherently."[8]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Mark Cooper'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 New Orleans Times-Picayune, "Gov. John Bel Edwards names new chief of staff," February 2, 2017
- ↑ KEEL, "Gov’s Chief of Staff Update JBE’s Virus Fighting Plans," March 18, 2020
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Mark Cooper," accessed August 21, 2017
- ↑ Louisiana Public Broadcasting, "Mark Cooper," accessed August 21, 2017
- ↑ The Advocate, "Gov. John Bel Edwards' chief of staff Ben Nevers to retire, former disaster official to take on role," February 2, 2017
- ↑ Earthquake Country Alliance, "Bio For Mark Cooper, Senior Director Global Emergency Management, Walmart Stores, Inc.," accessed August 21, 2017
- ↑ Office of Gov. John Bel Edwards, "Gov. Edwards Announces Retirement of Chief of Staff," February 2, 2017
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 National Governors Association, "The Many Roles of the Governor’s Chief of Staff," accessed April 20, 2021
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