Theodore Cooke

Nominee's Key Links: 

Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodorecooke/

Resume or CV: 

Writing or Publications: In Arizona, Collaboration Averts Water Disaster | icma.org Ted-Cooke-Transcript.pdf Ted Cooke of the Central Arizona Project: Dealing With Shortage and Envisioning Future Supplies - Municipal Water Leader Magazine

Website: 

Video: 

Socials: https://knowyourwaternews.com/ted-cooke-the-accidental-accountant-who-became-general-manager/

 

Agency or agencies for which nominator feels nominee is best suited:

  • Department of The Interior
  • Department of Energy


    Organization name(s) and position(s) for which nominator feels nominee is best suited:

    DOI Assistant Secretary Water and Science, DOI Reclamation Commissioner, DOI Deputy Assistant Secretary Water and Science, Advisor to the Secretary, DOE Office of Electricity, DOE WAPA, DOE Energy Information Administration

     

    Policies which the nominator knows the nominee supports or in which they have expertise:

    Colorado River Basin contracting, surface water and groundwater management, water infrastructure and utility development, financing, construction, operations and maintenance, water negotiations, water augmentation, water conservation. Power plant (fossil fuel, solar, geothermal) development, financing, construction, operations and maintenance and contracting.

     

    Nominator's thoughts on what would make this nominee a valuable member of a future Trump Unity Government

    Dr. Cooke has technical (BS Physics), operations (MBA) and management (DBA) degrees and several professional certifications. In his four decade career, he has risen to the executive level in two power plant development and operations companies and a public water utility. He has worked closely with the Department of the Interior/ Bureau of Reclamation and the Department of Energy/ Western Area Power Administration closely during his 24 years at the Central Arizona Project, as well as many other agencies and constituencies in the Colorado River Basin. Dr. Cooke is an honest broker, explaining his and his organizations' positions clearly and without guile, noting potential conflicts and disagreements with other points of view transparently. Dr. Cooke makes the effort to communicate not only "what" a position or a decision is, but also the "why" and "why not" considerations involved. Dr. Cooke is respectful of other points of view, even when not agreeing with them, and supports other parties' rights to hold those points of view and advocate for them. Dr. Cooke believes that the U.S. Constitution (along with other founding documents) is the foundation of the rule of law in the United States and defines the relationship between the government and the citizens. As a fiduciary in the financial roles he has held, and also as a government official, Dr. Cooke has always held that the superseding interest is that of the beneficiaries and constituents. Dr. Cooke has always adhered to the ethical principles demanded by his professional affiliations (e.g., Certified Management Accountant). Dr. Cooke has taken a stand several times in his career that resulted in personal and organizational harm, including refusing to modify financial statements in ways that would violate accounting standards, exposing multi-million dollar internal fraud that put his employer into bankruptcy and ended his employment, and standing up to other government agencies that were willing to violate existing statutory or contractual authorities. During his employment, Dr. Cooke and his organizations earned many awards and other recognition attesting to their professionalism, innovation, and collaboration.
    2) Is Honest...
    3) Is Respectful ...
    4) Has Integrity ...
    5) Has Courage ...
    6) Has a Proven Record...

  • Try these links for “writing or publications:”

    For video, try these links:

    New Water Infrastructure Official Appointed to Manage $1.2 Billion For Arizona’s Water Crisis - AZ FREE NEWS

    Here is an article about Theodore’s work on water supply infrastructure in Arizona.

    Here is another article about Ted’s work with WIFA.

    This is a good article about Theodore Cooke working to turn around a really bad situation with the Arizona Department of Water Resources five years ago. It earned Cooke and the director of ADWR the designation by the Arizona Republic newspaper as “Arizonans of the Year” in 2019 for their work.

    Arizonans of the Year prove you don’t have to agree to work together

    More positive recognition for the 2019 Drought Contingency Plan from the Arizona Chamber of Commerce.

    Glenn Hamer’s 2019 Ham(m)er Awards - Chamber Business News

    The struggle over how to manage the dwindling Colorado River Supply among the seven Colorado River Basin states and Mexico continues to this minute. Although the attached article is from two years ago, the same issues are in play today. Note especially the last couple of paragraphs and the closing statement from Ted Cooke.

    State Tensions Rise As Water Cuts Deepen On The Colorado River - Inside Climate News