With the departure of Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Apple has an open spot that it must fill. The question everyone is asking is who will Apple choose for the job. The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple’s Board of Directors will meet on Tuesday to discuss Schmidt’s replacement. I’m sure the board has a handful of people they would like to see take the spot

I read an interesting piece on ZDNet yesterday that said naming Tim Cook to Apple’s board is a no-brainer. I have to agree. Especially with everything else that’s going on right now.

Let’s face it — there isn’t a person out there that wouldn’t want to be on Apple’s board. It’s a prestigious position and one of great influence. Who wouldn’t want that.

However, Apple has to be very careful. Schmidt left just days after the FCC announced it was investigating Apple’s refusal of the Google Voice app for the iPhone. With the FCC in the preliminary stages of an investigation and Apple feeling the heat over its App Store, Apple needs someone it can count on and someone that won’t raise any more red flags.

I’m not suggesting Cook be appointed to the board because he’s a friend of Apple. I think he deserves the position and would serve Apple and the shareholders well.

Cook is currently Apple’s chief operating officer, responsible for all of the company’s worldwide sales and operations, including end-to-end management of Apple’s supply chain, sales activities, and service and support in all markets and countries.

Perhaps one of the most important factors is that Steve Jobs trusts Cook. It’s Cook that Jobs turned to take over the day-to-day operations of the company when he took a medical leave of absence earlier this year.

There is no doubt that Tim Cook should not only be considered for the vacant board seat, he should be on top of the list.