David Cooke

— Bio —

David Cooke, comes from a varied aerospace, systems engineering and small business start-up background. As a senior military pilot and Canadian astronaut quarter finalist, he acquired a diverse background in satellite tracking and software development when servicing with the US Air Force Space Command in Colorado as Chief of Space Surveillance Division and NORAD Contact for Shuttle operations during 1977-1988. A Canadian, born in Sarnia, Ontario, he left active duty in 1988 to become Assistance Program Manager, Operations, Canadian Space Station Program with Spar Aerospace, in charge of Space Ops, Ground Ops, Training and Logistical support for the Canadian robotics on the station and was the first non-American to be awarded the USAF Sr. Space Badge. In 1988 he was presented as an Officer the Order of Military Merit (O.M.M.) by the Governor General of Canada. After leaving Spar in 1995 he served as Director R&D for software development and Vice President of four Internet start-up companies before starting his own Renewable Energy company TRUE-NORTH Power Systems in Lion’s Head, Ontario in 2002. Mr. Cooke teaches a Wind and Solar Hybrid Systems course, attracting participants from as far away as UK, Korea, Philippines, Ireland, Norway, Cape Verde, Germany, Pakistan, India, Turkey and South Africa and has personally installed or serviced hundreds of turbines or wind and solar hybrid systems in many of the same territories. Although not currently active, Mr. Cooke held a commercial pilot’s license, Multi-engine and helicopter endorsements and enjoys occasional flying with friends for recreation whenever he can. Married with 2 grown children, he and his wife enjoy visiting their grandchildren, travel and cycling near their solar and wind powered summer home in Lion’s Head. They currently reside in Kitchener, Ontario.