Cardell Cooper

Nominated by President William Jefferson Clinton and confirmed by the United States Senate in 1998, Cardell Cooper served as Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development (CPD) at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. As Assistant Secretary, he oversaw more than $7 billion in grant and loan programs that help community's plan and finance their growth and development increase their capacity to govern, and provide shelter and services for homeless people. Mr. Cooper developed and articulated departmental community revitalization and economic development policies too federal, state and local officials, advocacy groups, non-profit providers and citizens throughout the country.

Community Planning and Development (CPD) programs include four formula programs: the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Emergency Shelter Grants and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS. Mr. Cooper also administered competitive grant programs such as the Continuum of Care, Rural Housing and Economic Development, Youthbuild, Empowerment Zones/ Enterprise Communities and the Economic Development and Brownfields Development Initiatives. The development of programs targeted to improve physical, economic and social conditions along with safe, decent and affordable housing were critical components of these initiatives.   

Prior to joining HUD, Mr. Cooper was nominated by President Clinton to serve as the Assistant Administrator at the United States Environmental Protection Agency and had responsibility for toxic waste cleanup and the Clinton Administration's Brownfields Redevelopment Initiatives.

Extensive experience in the workings of local government has enriched Mr. Cooper's public service career. In 1989, Mr. Cooper was elected mayor of East Orange, New Jersey, making him the youngest mayor in the city's history. The citizens of East Orange re-elected him to a second term in 1993. During his two terms as mayor, East Orange experienced a resurgence of civic pride and community involvement. The city made strides in several areas benefiting the citizens of East Orange, including a rise in business development, significant improvements in public schools test scores, expanded affordable housing, a reduction in the crime rate, and upgrades to the city's infrastructure.

From 1988-1990, Mr. Cooper served as the County Administrator for the County of Essex, New Jersey, the largest, most diverse and most urban county in the state. Additionally, he served as the Business Administrator for the City of Irvington, New Jersey, and served 8 years as the Director of Human Services for the city of East Orange, New Jersey.

Mr. Cooper's expansive array of interest has resulted in numerous additional professional activities. Mr. Cooper served on the Advisory Board of the United States Conference of Mayors and chaired its Health and Human Services Committee and Task Force on Immigration. He was also a member of the National League of Cities Transportation and Communication Committee.  Cardell attended the Harvard University JFK School of Government Mayor’s Leadership Institute, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Institute of City Design and participated in the Johns Hopkins University Policy Leadership Program.

Also of great interest to Mr. Cooper are matters of international development. Under the auspices of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Mr. Cooper traveled to Taiwan 1995; to Jerusalem in 1994: and to Japan in 1993. These visits focused on issues such as economic development and international trade opportunities. Former New Jersey Governor Jim Florio selected Mr. Cooper to lead the state's first economic trade mission to Ghana West Africa in 1993. In 1990, Mayor Cooper was chosen as a member of the U. S. Conference of Mayors delegation to Poland, providing assistance and guidance to Poland’s newly elected mayors following this country's first free elections in 50 years. Mr. Cooper represented the United States in Switzerland at the Young Leaders International Conference.  Mr. Cooper also visited South Africa as a member of the Sister Cities International Mission to that country. 

Mr. Cooper was nominated by New Jersey Governor Jim Florio and confirmed by the New Jersey State Senate to serve as a commissioner on the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority from 1991-1996. During his tenure he was selected to the leadership post of Vice-Chairman by his fellow commissioners

Mr. Cooper has received numerous awards and commendations including the prestigious Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund-- Historically Black Colleges and Universities National Leadership and Achievement Award. 

Mr. Cooper received his Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Montclair State University in 1974 and a Master's degree in Public Administration from Rutgers University in 1978.

After leaving the Clinton Administration in 2001 Mr. Cooper established Cooper Associates a consulting group and serves as its President. The mission of Cooper Associates is to provide high quality strategic planning and advice to a variety of public and private clients.

On March 1, 2006 Mr. Cooper  was recruited by the Board of Directors to become the Executive Director of the National Community Development Association (NCDA) a Washington based trade organization.  The mission of NCDA is to assist local governments to achieve high-quality, locally responsive programs for making communities better places to live and work, particularly for low and moderate income people.

Cardell and his wife Sandy are the proud parents of two daughters Tiffane and Dana.  The Cooper family resides in Fairfax County, Virginia.