Serving as the fifth Executive Director in the Delaware River and Bay Authority’s history, Thomas J. Cook is the bi-state agency’s Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for the management and operations of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the Cape May - Lewes Ferry, the Forts Ferry Crossing, five regional airports as well as economic development initiatives permitted by the Compact.  

During his tenure, the State of Delaware has witnessed the successful return of commercial air service to the Wilmington (ILG) airport along with the construction of a ship collision protection system at the Delaware Memorial Bridge that will prevent tragedies such as what happened at the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland.  He is the current chairman of the executive steering committee that is overseeing the design and construction of the next generation of ferries to be operated by the Cape May Lewes Ferry system.  As a result of these initiatives and his forward thinking, the Authority’s bond rating was raised in 2024.

Prior to taking the position of Executive Director, Mr. Cook served as Delaware’s Secretary of Finance in Governor Jack Markell’s administration.  At the time of his retirement, he was the longest serving Secretary of Finance in Delaware’s history.  Mr. Cook led the development and implementation of the state’s sports lottery system and was one of the major architects responsible for updating Delaware’s corporate tax laws to incentivize businesses to locate in Delaware.  During his nearly eight-year tenure, Delaware was one of only nine states to maintain a Triple A bond rating from all three major rating agencies.  In 2017, Governor Markell presented Mr. Cook with the Order of the First State, which recognizes individuals for their meritorious service on behalf of the citizens of the State of Delaware.

Mr. Cook also served as Deputy Secretary of Finance, Government Information Center Manager, and State Election Commissioner.  During his term as Commissioner in 1996, Delaware became the first state in the nation to tabulate their statewide election results using electronic voting machines.

In 2024, Mr. Cook was recognized by the News Journal as one of “Delaware’s Most Influential Leaders” and in 2025 he was named one of the state’s “Most Impactful Leaders” by the Delaware Business Times publication.