John G. Cooke completed his undergraduate studies at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, receiving the Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, and was commissioned in 1978. In 1989 he received the degree of ocean engineer from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program in Oceanographic Engineering.He is a Lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy. He completed nuclear propulsion and submarine training in 1980 and was assigned to the commissioning crew of the USS Ohio (SSBN 726). He served as Engineering Officer of the commissioning crew of the USS Georgia (SSBN 729) and a Navigator and Operations Officer of the USS San Francisco (SSN 711). LCDR Cooke is currently Officer-in-Charge of the U.S. Navy's nuclear-powered deep-submergence research vessel NR-1.