Cooper is the founder and CEO of Ocean Data Network. In addition, he is a founder and co-chair of the Fishing Vessel Ocean Observing Network (FVON), the global network of private and public institutions conducting collaborative ocean observation efforts with fishing vessels. FVON is officially endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade and has recently been accepted as an emerging network into the Global Ocean Observing System [GOOS). Cooper also serves on the CoastPredict UN Ocean Decade Program Executive Committee, helping to chart a course for coastal ocean observing and forecasting systems around the world. Cooper grew up on a small island in Maine and fished commercially both in the Maine lobster fishery as well as the salmon purse seine fishery in Prince William Sound. Cooper started his career as a mechanical design engineer, engineering robotic systems for aerospace manufacturing, before focusing on fisheries and getting an MSc in Fisheries Oceanography from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU-Aqua).