VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Navy SEAL Foundation, a non-profit organization providing critical support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community, announced today retired U.S. Navy SEAL Dave M. Cooper has been named the Foundation’s newest President. The position was filled as part of the organization’s restructuring to ensure heightened responsiveness to the needs of the NSW community and their families.
In this new role, Cooper will report to CEO Robin King. His primary responsibilities will include public relations, as well as building relationships with current and prospective key donors and constituents.
Together with King and the Foundation’s Board of Directors, Cooper will execute the organization’s mission to consistently deliver five pillars of support to the NSW community: warrior support and family services, educational opportunities, tragedy assistance, and survivor support and legacy preservation.
“I am truly honored to join the Navy SEAL Foundation as President,” said Cooper. “The Foundation does incredibly important work supporting operators and their families, who sacrifice so much in the name of protecting America’s freedoms. As a SEAL, a husband and father of four boys, I understand these sacrifices and look forward to leveraging my extensive experience to support these warriors and their families.”
Cooper is one of only twelve U.S. Navy SEALs to hold the position of Command Master Chief at Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He has more than two decades of experience in NSW and Joint Special Operations Forces selection, training, education and operations, and more than a decade of experience creating and leading high-performing teams to solve complex problems on the battlefield and in the boardroom.
From 1994 to 2012, he completed dozens of deployments in some of the world’s most dangerous places including Bosnia, Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan and Iraq. He has led extensively in combat at the Team, Troop and Squadron levels, and has executed missions spanning the full gamut of NSW capabilities. He has been awarded numerous honors including three Presidential Citations, a Silver Star, six Bronze Stars with Valor” and two Distinguished Meritorious Service medals, among others.
“Dave is the perfect person to fill the role of President at the Foundation,” said King. “As a retired SEAL he has been in the fight and uniquely understands the stressors on SEAL operators and their families. We know that he will be successful in representing the Foundation publicly and effectively conveying the needs of the NSW community.”
About the Navy SEAL Foundation
The Navy SEAL Foundation
mission is to provide immediate and ongoing support and assistance to
the Naval Special Warfare community and their families. The Foundation
coordinates closely with NSW commands to support the critical needs of
active-duty operators and their families and providing resources for NSW
veterans. Our work is focused on five pillars: warrior support and
family services, educational opportunities, tragedy assistance, survivor
support and legacy preservation. To learn more, visit navySEALfoundation.org
or facebook.com/navySEALfoundation.
