Laura Cooper

Laura Cooper
Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
Acting
In office
January 20, 2021 – December 17, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byMichael Cutrone (Acting)
Succeeded byCeleste A. Wallander
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, Eurasia
Assumed office
January 20, 2017
PresidentDonald Trump
Joe Biden
Preceded byEvelyn Farkas
Personal details
BornSt. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
EducationNorthwestern University (BA)
Georgetown University (MS)
National Defense University (MS)

Laura Katherine Cooper (born 1974) is an American civil servant. Ms. Cooper is the 2023 Federal Employee of the Year (Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals), awarded by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service to celebrate excellence in the U.S. federal civil service.[1] She is Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russian, Ukrainian, and Eurasian affairs in the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and a career member of the Senior Executive Service (SES). In 2023, she was honored with the Presidential Rank Distinguished Executive Award,[2] the highest annual award for career SES members. She previously served as principal director in the office of the Homeland Defense and Global Security Affairs.

Cooper testified to the United States Congress's House Intelligence Committee during a closed-door hearing on October 23, 2019; this committee gathered information relevant to impeachment proceedings involving U.S. President Donald Trump.[3] She also testified on November 20, 2019, in an open hearing to that same committee.

  1. ^ Medals, Samuel J. Heyman Service to America. "Laura Cooper". Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  2. ^ Medals, Presidential Rank Distinguished Executive Award. "2023 Presidential Rank Awards Winners". Office of Personnel Management. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  3. ^ globeandmail.com, October 23, 2019, article on Cooper's Capitol Hill appearance