Heritage Foundation Leadership for America

Rory Cooper is Director of Strategic Communications at The Heritage Foundation.

In this position, Cooper manages strategic communications for the think tank, coordinates its internal communications and develops new media partnerships for Heritage.

Cooper also serves as the senior editor for all of Heritage's digital media, including heritage.org, the "Foundry" blog and the daily "Morning Bell" e-newsletter.

Before joining Heritage in October 2008, Cooper served as a Senior Policy Adviser at the Energy Department, where he led domestic and international energy policy coordination and communications. He also served as a lead negotiator in the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, which created a framework between the two nations for all future energy cooperation. This includes the creation of EcoPartnerships, which aspire to advance the energy security, economic growth and environmental sustainability between private, voluntary partners in both countries.

Before that, Cooper served at NASA as the Director of the agency's new Division of Outreach and Intergovernmental Affairs, where he created cutting-edge outreach strategies for Congress, local elected leaders and the general public. One achievement during his tenure was the development of "NASA 101," one of the agency's most effective and popular communications products to date. In this role, he also led industry and congressional liaison, and developed winning strategies to highlight America 's contributions to the space shuttle and the future of the space program.

Prior to NASA, Cooper led all state and community liaison for the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission. Between 2001 and 2004, he served at the White House, first as Associate Director of Policy and Plans in the newly formed Office of Homeland Security, and then as Associate Director of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Homeland Security Council.

In these positions, Cooper played a principle role in the development of the nation's first National Strategy for Homeland Security, and was part of the group responsible for crafting the proposal and legislation that formed the new Department of Homeland Security. Prior to the events of Sept.11, 2001, Cooper served as Deputy White House Liaison to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez.

From 1999-2000, Cooper worked at the National Republican Congressional Committee's political division, where he helped organize the committee's successful incumbent retention and PAC programs. He also has served at the Republican Governors Association, two Inaugural Committees and has participated in countless other political and grassroots campaigns.

Cooper was born in Royal Oak, Mich., and grew up in Franklin, Mich. He earned a bachelor's degree in international relations and political science at Tulane University in New Orleans. He lives in Hyattsville, Md., with his wife, Emily, and their dog, Harold.