Major General Peter Cooke (Ret.)

Last Name: Cooke

First Name: Peter

Middle Name: Stryker

Medals and Honors:

• Army Distinguished Service Medal

• Legion of Merit with three oak leaf cluster

ACNSL Offices and Committees: President, National Security & the All-Volunteer Force Committee Chair

Rank: Major General

Service/Department: U.S. Army

Last or Significant Assignment: Commanding General 96th Regional Support Command; Chairman of Army Reserve Policy

Areas of Experience: Military Force Structure, Readiness, National Security, Combat Support; Reserve Policy

Overview

Major General (Ret.) Peter S. Cooke is a career military leader, entrepreneur, and public servant with more than 39 years of service in uniform and decades of leadership in national security, economic development, veteran advocacy, and affordable housing initiatives.

Military Career

• Rank: Major General, U.S. Army Reserve (Retired 2009)

• Final Command: Commanding General, 96th Regional Readiness Command (2005–2009)

  • Led 10,000 soldiers and civilians across seven states in the largest geographic command in the Army Reserve.

  • Oversaw 66 units, $474 million in assets, and a $29.6 million annual budget.

• Awards & Decorations:

  • Army Distinguished Service Medal

  • Legion of Merit with three Oak Leaf Clusters

  • Army Community of Excellence Award (2009)

• Policy Leadership: Served eight years on the Armed Reserve Forces Policy Committee; chaired the committee (2007–2009), advising the Secretary of the Army and senior Army leadership on Reserve Component matters.

Veteran Advocacy

• Founder, Partnership with America, and Employer Partnership Initiative, connecting veterans and reservists with civilian careers.

• Former Director, National Center for Veterans Studies, focusing on veteran reintegration and human capital management.

Business & Economic Development

• CEO, PSC Development Company & Evergreene Management Group—developed and managed over $550 million in residential projects, including Olympic Housing (2002) and the historic restoration of Fort Douglas.

• Former CEO, PSC Military Housing Company—secured more than $1 billion in public-private housing partnerships at 12 U.S. military bases (over 11,000 units).

• Former Director, Utah State Economic Industrial Division—played a key role in launching what became the Sundance Film Festival.

• Former Director of Government Affairs, Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce; Director, Deseret Certified Development Company.

• Served on the National Board of Directors, U.S. Small Business Administration.

• Recipient, Lifetime Achievement Award, Utah Apartment Association (2011).

Public Service & Leadership

• Commissioner, Adams Family National Memorial Commission.

• Government Relations, University of Utah.

• Mission President, Washington D.C. North Mission, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

• Candidate for U.S. Congress (1978) and Governor of Utah (2012).

• Early career: Legislative aide to U.S. Congressman Gunn McKay and U.S. Senator Frank Moss.

Education

• Master of Arts & Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Utah State University.

• Graduate, U.S. Army War College (1999).

Personal Background

Born in Miami, Florida, Peter grew up in a globally mobile family, attending schools in the U.S., Thailand, Puerto Rico, and Germany before graduating from Frankfurt American High School.

His lifelong career reflects an enduring commitment to service, leadership, and strengthening the nation’s security and communities.