Tyrus William Cobb (April 15, 1940 – December 7, 2024) was an American lieutenant colonel and academic who specialized in national security. Cobb was a member of the U.S. National Security Council, where he served as director of European and Soviet Affairs Directorate from 1983 until 1988 and special assistant to the president for national security affairs from 1988 until 1989. After the NSC, Cobb served on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations, including Business Executives for National Security, NatureBridge, AAFMAA and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Nevada.
After retirement, Cobb was appointed a civilian aide to the United States Secretary of the Army. In 2017, he received the award Distinguished Nevadan from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Tyrus William Cobb was born in Reno, Nevada, on April 15, 1940.[1][2] He was a fourth generation Nevadan.[3] His father, Tyrus Richard, was a news anchor and he had two siblings.[3] Cobb graduated from Reno High School in 1958.[3]
Cobb consulted with the U.S. National Security Council during the Carter and Reagan administrations on international energy issues. He was later asked to join the council as a member of the European and Soviet Affairs Directorate, succeeding Dennis C. Blair. At the directorate, Cobb advised on European affairs, Canada and Soviet policy.[4] On July 15, 1988, he replaced Robert D. Blackwill as special assistant to the president and senior director of the International Programs and Technology Affairs Directorate.[6] As special assistant, Cobb was responsible for science and technology agreements, export policy, United Nations affairs, and the environment.[4] He was succeeded by David Charles Miller Jr. on March 13, 1989.[7]
Later career
After leaving the NSC, Cobb was the president and CEO of Business Executives for National Security from 1991 until 1995, before leaving the position to serve as president and CEO of NatureBridge, a position he held until 2002.[4]
Cobb retired to Reno in 2002, where he founded the National Security Forum, a non-profit organization that focuses on debate on national and international security issues.[3][4] He was a member of the AAFMAA board of directors.[8] Cobb was a member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Nevada Advisory Committee.[9] He retired from the NSF in 2018.[10]
Cobb was appointed a civilian aide to the secretary of the Army in Nevada in 2005. He received the award Distinguished Nevadan from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2017.[3]
Cobb married Suellen Small in 1965 and they had three children, along with five grandchildren.[3][4] His son, Ty, served in the Nevada Assembly from 2006 until 2010.[13]