Scott Cooper

As the Director of National Security Outreach, Scott Cooper is Human Rights First’s chief ambassador to the national security community. He leads Human Rights First’s efforts to build partnerships with members of the military and national security communities as well as national security-focused think tanks and research institutions. He founded their initiative, Veterans for American Ideals.

Prior to joining Human Rights First, Scott spent a career in the Marine Corps. He flew the EA-6B Prowler, serving five tours in Iraq, two in Afghanistan, one in Europe, and one in the Western Pacific. He flew the Bosnian and Iraqi no-fly zones, the Kosovo air campaign, and in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He also served on the ground as a Forward Air Controller in Iraq and Afghanistan. He commanded an EA-6B Prowler squadron and finished his career as the speechwriter to the head of Marine Corps Aviation.

An expert on civil-military relations, air power, and national security issues, he has published work in the Washington Post, Foreign Affairs, the New York Times, the American Interest, DefenseOne, War On The Rocks, Task & Purpose, the Washington Quarterly, Policy Review, Proceedings, and the Marine Corps Gazette. Scott holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Maryland at College Park.

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