Col. Joseph A. Cooke, Jr.

Photo courtesy of Delaware Technical Community College

Col. Joseph A. Cooke, Jr., the Delaware Army National Guard’s deputy chief of staff for personnel, has been nominated by Gov. John Carney and confirmed by the Delaware State Senate to serve a three-year term on the Board of Trustees for Delaware Technical Community College.

“Col. Cooke has served in numerous roles during his National Guard tenure that provided partnership opportunities with Delaware Tech,” said Board Chairman Nancy Shevock. “That experience has provided him with a working knowledge of the College’s programs and a commitment to its mission, and we are fortunate to have him join our Board of Trustees.”

Col. Cooke entered the Delaware National guard in 1989 as a private and received his commission from Delaware’s Army National Guard Office Candidate School in 1996, graduating as the Distinguished Honor Graduate.

Prior to his current assignment, he served in several leadership positions, including Joint Staff vice chief of staff, recruiting and retention commander, and deputy chief of staff for information management.

Col. Cooke holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics, with Engineering Emphasis, and Mathematics from Delaware State University, a Master of Science in Geophysics from Stony Brook University, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. He also has received numerous awards and decorations during his military career. Among them are the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and the Signal Corps Regimental Association's Bronze Order of the Mercury.

Col. Cooke is filling a vacancy created by the retirement of Brig. Gen. Ernest G. Talbert Jr., who had served on the Board since 2017. Trustees Mike Hare and Diane Glenn also were confirmed by the Senate this month to new three-year terms.