Douglas C. Cole
Sr. Vice President Government Affairs
Douglas Cole joined HighGround, Inc. in August of 1998 after building a successful public-sector career in the U.S. Congress, the Arizona Governor’s Office, and the Arizona Legislature.
Before joining HighGround, Cole was the Director of Communications for the Arizona House of Representatives. In this position, he was a member of the House’s top management team and was the chief spokesman for the Majority and the House Speaker. Cole joined the House in October of 1997.
Prior to his top House position, Cole served as Arizona Governor Fife Symington’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and was his chief spokesman from 1991-97.
Cole served as Press Secretary to Congressman John J. Rhodes, III (R-Arizona) in Washington, DC from 1987-91 during which time Rhodes was a ranking member of the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee. He was the Public Information Assistant for the Central Arizona Water Conservation District, the operating agency for the Central Arizona Project, from 1985-87 in Phoenix.
Besides his legislative work, Douglas Cole has been integrally involved in many political campaigns ranging from congressional campaigns (Congressman John J. Rhodes, III), to gubernatorial (Arizona Governor Fife Symington), to Secretary of State (Arizona Secretaries of State Betsey Bayless and Jan Brewer), along with numerous statewide initiatives and legislative races. Additionally, Cole was the Arizona Communications Director for Sen. John McCain’s 2000 presidential bid and a member of his 2008 campaign communications team in Arizona. Cole began his professional career as a staff assistant/intern to then-Congressman John McCain (R-Arizona) in 1984.
Recently, Cole served as the Deputy Director of Transition for Operations and Communications for Governor Janice K. Brewer.
Douglas Cole graduated cum laude from The American University, School of International Studies, in Washington, DC. His curricula included studies at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Mr. Cole is a frequent commentator on Arizona politics in the Arizona media. He also guest lectures on the media and politics.
Cole is a public member of the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments. He served for eight years on the Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments. Cole is also a long-time member of the Phoenix Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee where he currently serves as Chairman.
Douglas Cole is a fourth-generation Arizonan and has two sons and a daughter.