Our Leadership
United Spinal Association is proud and honored to announce the election of Tom Cooke as Chairman of the Board, effective July 1, 2008. Mr. Cooke is a 100% service-connected veteran member residing in Flushing (Queens), NY. Mr. Cooke began his service on United Spinal Association’s board of directors in 1999, and has twice served as Vice-Chairman of the Board. Mr. Cooke is involved in local politics, ran briefly for the New York State Senate, and ultimately ran the campaign of Democrat Nora Marino, in 2006. Mr. Cooke graduated with a Master of Fine Arts degree from Sarah Lawrence College in 2005, graduated Magna Cum Laude with High Honors in English and a minor in the Business & Liberal Arts program (BALA), Queens College-CUNY in 1999. He has also worked as a standardized test tutor of high school students at the Huntington Learning Center in Manhasset, New York. As Chairman of the Board, Mr. Cooke plans to strengthen United Spinal’s outreach to the business and corporate community through full utilization of the rich and diverse experience of its dynamic board of directors. As a strong communicator, serving as an advocate and ambassador for United Spinal is a natural fit for Mr. Cooke. Readers of Action Magazine can look forward to his flair for language and more importantly for grasping important issues and digesting them down to their essence – weather they be veterans’ issues or those affecting the larger disability community. Continuing to unify and strengthen this community so that it can speak with one voice is one of Mr. Cooke’s primary goals as Chairman of the Board.
Paul J. Tobin was unanimously appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of United Spinal Association in June 2006. He served as Deputy Executive Director from July 2003 and was a member of the Board of Directors from 1995 to 1996. Tobin, a United States Navy veteran, oversees all strategic operations of the organization and ensures the execution of United Spinal’s mission and vision. In addition to his tour as Deputy Executive Director, Tobin has held a variety of managerial positions, including Hospital Services Officer, Director of Special Projects, and Group Director of Benefit Services. He was promoted to Associate Executive Director of Benefit Services in 1998. A Long Island native, Tobin graduated from Manhattan College with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering in 1991. Upon graduation, Tobin attended the United States Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, from which he was commissioned an ensign in November, 1991 and joined the Civil Engineering Corps. With the CEC, Tobin was stationed at Naval Air Warfare Center in Lakehurst, New Jersey. After sustaining a spinal cord injury in August of 1993, Tobin underwent rehabilitation at the Castle Point (NY) Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Tobin has also pursued a Masters degree in Public Health Administration at Columbia University and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Social Work at Fordham University. Tobin stresses the tradition of service that is the legacy of United Spinal Association and, as president and CEO, urges our membership and individuals with disabilities everywhere to “continually challenge the limitations imposed by attitudes, medical technology, society, and government.”
Officers Thomas Cooke - Chairman of the Board Board of Directors
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Thomas Cooke
Paul Tobin
