R. Clarke Cooper, an Eagle Scout, Army combat veteran and former diplomat, was elected Executive Director of Log Cabin Republicans in 2010.  Log Cabin Republicans promotes legislation to provide basic fairness for gay and lesbian Americans and works to build a more inclusive Republican Party. The 30-year old conservative organization has state and local chapters nationwide, a full-time office in Washington, DC, a federal political action committee and state political action committees. 

Cooper both individually and in regards to his position with Log Cabin Republicans is an active member of the Republican Party. He is as a member of the Advisory Council and the Central Committee of the District of Columbia Republican Committee. In June of 2011, he was tapped by Chairman Reince Priebus to serve on the Republican National Committee Finance Committee. In November of 2011 he joined the Steering Committee for the Republican Inclusion Working Group.

Cooper served both terms of the George W. Bush Administration.  His last appointment was as a Counselor at the United States Mission to the United Nations (USUN) for UN management and reform where advocated for transparency, accountability and reform of the UN.  He concurrently served as an Alternative Representative to the UN Security Council and as a Delegate to the UN Fifth Committee (budget) from 2008-2009.  He initially served as USUN Chief of Staff in 2007.  From 2006-2007, he was the Senior Legislative Advisor for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Iraq Affairs. 

Overseas, Cooper served as the Legislative Affairs Advisor for US Embassy in Baghdad from 2005-2006.  Early in 2005, he served as Policy Advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Interior.  Mr. Cooper initially came to Iraq as an Army reserve officer in 2004 on active duty with Combined Joint Task Force-7 and later Multi-National Force Iraq.  For his Iraq tour of duty, Mr. Cooper was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal.  He also received the Combat Action Badge, the Iraq Campaign Medal with two stars and Joint Meritorious Unit Award from the U.S. Department of Defense.

Cooper entered the Bush Administration in 2001 when he was appointed Assistant Director of the National Park Service for Legislative and Congressional Affairs.  Between 1999 and 2001, Cooper was Deputy Director of Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s Federal Affairs Office in Washington.  He also served as the Director of Governmental Affairs for the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida from 1995-1999.  From 1994-1995, Cooper was on the legislative staff for U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL).

Cooper was raised in Tallahassee, Florida where in his youth he attained the rank of Eagle Scout.  He is a graduate of The Florida State University and is also a graduate of the US Army Infantry Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia and the US Army Intelligence School at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.