Mark Cooper, who headed the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, has resigned to take a job in the private sector. He’s set to become senior director of emergency managment for Walmart’s global operations. Cooper, a Bossier City native, left his job as deputy fire chief with the Los Angeles County Fire Department in 2007 to lead the office. Gov. Bobby Jindal praised Cooper’s expertise and strong work ethic. “Mark worked tirelessly to protect Louisianians during numerous disasters, including hurricanes Gustav and Ike, the BP oil spill, the Mississippi River flooding this year and several tornadoes and winter storms that impacted communities all across our state,” Jindal says. “Mark is a strong, proven leader, and our state benefited greatly from his wealth of experience in disaster management.” Pat Santos will serve as interim director until hurricane season ends on Nov. 30. Santos, GOHSEP deputy director, is a retired colonel with the Louisiana Army National Guard. He has been with GOHSEP since January 2006, when it was still known as the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
This story has been updated since it was first published.
