Dr. John D. Cooper
Dr. John D. Cooper is a performance-driven professional with over ten years of experience in Industrial Engineering, Mining Policy and Research, Geographic Information Systems, and Information Technology Management. He holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Trident University, United States. His Master’s degree is in Information and Communications Technology from the University of Agder in Norway, and his Bachelor’s in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.
He received his professional training in Europe and America. His professional career started in Oslo, Norway, in 2010, working as a research engineer at the University of Oslo. He went on to work as an ICT Researcher at DevoTeam in Grimstad, Norway. In 2013, he relocated to the United States, where he worked and supervised several projects for the government and other private organizations: the US Veteran Affairs in California, Comcast Cooperation in Maryland, and Nova Computing Solutions in Virginia. He also briefly served as an aviation engineer in the US Navy Reserves.
In his current role as Director of Policy and Research at the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources, he serves as the head of the technical department. He provides technical and strategic advice to the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources on emerging policy issues. He represents the Ministry in the negotiations of all mining activities between investors (local and foreign) and the Government of Sierra Leone. He supervises three units within the Mines Ministry: the Mineral Investment Promotion Unit, Mineral Policy Unit, and the Mineral Contracting and Licensing Unit. In addition, he ensures the effective administration of the mines and mineral policies formulated by the Ministry. He also facilitates research and liaises with academic institutions and other professional bodies to improve the mineral sector’s governance.
Dr. Cooper is a proud executive member of the American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM), American Association of Engineering Societies (AAES), Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME)-USA, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)-USA, Norwegian Petroleum Society (NPS), and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)-USA. He is also a former President of the Engineering Society, Fourah Bay College (University of Sierra Leone).
