Aaron Cooper – Senior Vice President for Global Policy
I am originally from Princeton, NJ, but have lived in Washington, DC, for roughly a quarter century.
I have run the global policy program for BSA since February 2016. I work with our fantastic team and members from around the world to ensure we are focused on the issues most important to the enterprise software industry. One key aspect of that work is making sure we are advocating for consistent and interoperable rules regardless of the market. A second aspect is finding areas in which we can proactively develop proposals on issues that we know policymakers will want to address.
Before joining BSA, I worked on Capitol Hill as the Chief Intellectual Property and Antitrust Counsel for then-Chairman Patrick Leahy on the Senate Judiciary Committee. I also spent six years at the law firm Covington & Burling, first as an associate before going to the Hill, and then later as a counsel.
Prior to working at Covington, I was a law clerk for Judge Gerald Tjoflat on the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Tjoflat has been a federal judge for 55 years and continues to hear cases. When I am thinking about legal issues, I still have in my head, “how would Judge Tjoflat approach this?”
I went to Princeton University for my undergraduate degree and Vanderbilt University for law school.
What attracted you to work at BSA?
As the lead staffer on IP issues in the Senate, I worked with a lot of different industry groups, including BSA. I knew from that experience that BSA was the place I wanted to work because the team and its members were always solution-oriented. They were willing to help work through legitimate concerns raised by other industries to achieve a pragmatic result. (I made the mistake of telling our CEO — before I was hired — that BSA was my dream destination, which probably wasn’t the best negotiating tactic, but was very true!)
What’s the most unique part about working at BSA?
The culture. The team at BSA is incredibly talented and motivated. That combination can sometimes lead to either unhealthy competition or a difficult work environment, but we have successfully maintained a collaborative culture that respects a work-life balance, which ultimately makes us more effective for our members.
What advice can you give someone who just started their career/wants to pursue a similar career?
There is more than one path to your dream job. Be open to learning new areas and developing new skills. There is value in being an expert on one specific issue, but there is also value in having broad exposure to a range of issues. Find good mentors, avoid working in places that don’t value collaboration, and always, always be respectful to others.
Favorite book/podcast/long-form article you recommend? What did you learn?
I am a big fan of The Great Courses, which has entry-level lectures on everything from Greek mythology to quantum mechanics.
Favorite spot in your hometown, or current city?
Hoagie Haven is a long-time institution in my hometown.
If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?
Chester A. Arthur. He tops many lists of least-remembered Presidents of the United States, and many of his papers were lost after his Administration. But he had a fascinating life and career — from being a civil rights lawyer in the 1850s, to being part of the spoils system, to ultimately signing into law the Civil Service Reform Act.
How do you unwind after work?
I find it fun to exaggerate after work. I’m excellent at it. In fact, I probably do it better than anyone else, ever.