Dani Helfet Cooper is the Chief of Operations for the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (NDF) at the U.S. Department of State.
NDF is a U.S. Government contingency fund responsible for rapidly responding to unanticipated or unusually challenging, urgent, and complex nonproliferation, counterproliferation, weapons destruction, and/or disarmament priorities when and/or where no other USG entities can. This includes threats posed by WMDs, other CBRNE, and advanced or destabilizing conventional weapons, materials, technology, and delivery systems. Dani previously served as the Deputy Director of NDF before fully shifting to her current role in which, among other things, she shapes and leads NDF’s crisis and contingency response.
Prior to joining NDF, Dani served as the Deputy Team Chief for Foreign Consequence Management (FCM) wherein she led FCM’s support to over 900 missions in two years. She’s also worked in several capacities throughout the International Security and Nonproliferation Bureau, including various policy and strategy portfolios and two tours in the ISN Front Office as Acting Chief of Staff and Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary.
Dani is also a former Marine Officer who was privileged to serve as the Operations Officer for an infantry unit, Headquarters Platoon Commander and Logistics Officer for two reserve artillery units, and as a counter-facilitation planner working on efforts in Iraq and Syria. Serving Marines and their families remains the greatest privilege of her life. She routinely credits the incredible military spouses of her Marines as being the single most important factor contributing to individual Marine readiness.
Above all else, Dani is most proud of and fulfilled by her three children.
