05th February, 2019 The Public Service Commission is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Edgar Cocker of Ma’ufanga, Tongatapu as Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet for the Prime Minister’s Office, who will assume this position with effect on 5th February, 2019 for a period of four (4) years.
Mr Cocker holds a Master of Business Administration (1991) and a Master of Science in Community Economic Development (1990) from New Hampshire College (now Southern New Hampshire University), New Hampshire, United States of America.
Mr. Cocker was first appointed to the public service in 2007 as the Director of Tourism for the then Ministry of Tourism. Furthermore, he held various positions in the private sector at the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd, Tonga Water Board, Friendly Islands Marketing Corporation from 1982 to 1992. Then from May 1992 until December, 2000 Mr Cocker was the Marketing, Trade, Investment and Product Development Advisor for the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Fiji. In addition, he was the Director for the Cooperative Research, Education and Extension Services under the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), at the US Territory of Northern Mariana Islands from 2001 to November, 2005.
Prior to taking up his appointment as Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, Mr Cocker served as CEO for the Ministry of Commerce, Consumer, Trade, Innovation and Labour with effect from 30th October, 2017 to 4th February, 2019.
Mr Cocker has extensive years of work experience both locally and regionally. The Public Service Commission welcomes Mr Edgar Cocker’s appointment as the Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet and wishes him a successful and fulfilling term in Office.
ENDS
Issued by the: Public Service Commission