National Chamber Foundation Names Richard Cooper Vice President of Research & Emerging Issues

Cooper to Provide Policy Outlook, Highlighting Important Issues that Will Impact the Private Sector

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s National Chamber Foundation (NCF) today named Richard Cooper vice president of Research & Emerging Issues. In this capacity, Cooper will lead NCF examining the issues that will impact the United States and its private sector over the next two to ten years.

“While the Chamber is busy working on the issues immediately impacting businesses, Rich is going to make sure we are prepared and informed for the issues that are coming down the road,” said Al Martinez-Fonts, executive vice president of the Chamber’s Forum for Policy Innovation, a group that oversees NCF. “His vision and guidance will be invaluable as the Chamber positions itself on policy that best advocates on behalf of business. We are both delighted and fortunate to have him join the team.”

Cooper is also a principal with Catalyst Partners, LLC, a government and public affairs practice in Washington, D.C., that focuses on homeland and national security matters. In this role, Cooper offers clients advice on emergency preparedness and business-continuity leadership, public-private partnerships, homeland security policies and programs, and science and technology development and deployment.

Prior to this, Cooper served as business liaison director for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Private Sector Office, where he took a leadership role in formulating Department policies and programs for private-sector preparedness and business-continuity efforts. During his time with DHS he worked on relief efforts surrounding Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, and the 9/11 Commission.

Before joining DHS, he served as a Senior Policy Advisor at NASA Headquarters, working as the special assistant to the NASA administrator and chief of staff/White House liaison.

Cooper currently serves as Chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association’s Homeland Security Division and was recently appointed as a Senior Fellow to George Washington University’s Homeland Security Policy Institute. He holds a B.A. in Political Science and Religion from The University of Mary Washington and is currently working toward a Masters in Public and International Affairs (National Security) at Virginia Tech.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

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