November 20, 2010
Saturday PM

Anchorage, Alaska – As part of the transition to his first full term, Governor Sean Parnell on Thursday appointed six members to his administration, including Natural Resources Commissioner Dan Sullivan, Transportation and Public Facilities Commissioner Marc Luiken, and Administration Commissioner Becky Hultberg.

Commerce, Community and Economic Development Commissioner Susan Bell and Environmental Conservation Commissioner Larry Hartig have been retained in their ongoing roles. The governor also named Cora Campbell as acting commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game.

Natural Resources Commissioner Dan Sullivan

Dan Sullivan has been named Natural Resources commissioner. Since June 2009, Sullivan has served as Alaska’s attorney general.

Under his leadership, the Department of Law undertook an aggressive strategy of initiating and intervening in environmental and related federal litigation to protect the state’s economic and resource development interests in areas from timber to mining to Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas development. Sullivan has served on the Governor’s Resource Development Subcabinet and was a trustee of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council.

Prior to becoming attorney general, Sullivan served in the Bush administration as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs. In this role, he was a senior advisor to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other top U.S. government officials on the formulation and execution of international energy, economic, trade, finance, transportation, telecommunications, and Arctic policies. Sullivan also led and managed the 200-employee State Department Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs.

Transportation and Public Facilities Commissioner Marc Luiken

Marc Luiken has been named Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) commissioner. Luiken currently serves as the deputy commissioner for aviation for DOT&PF. In this capacity he is responsible for management and operations of the state’s 253 rural airports and also serves as executive director of the Alaska International Airport System.

Luiken is a retired Air Force colonel with 29 years of service. He served as vice commander of 11th Air Force at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, overseeing the mission execution for two flying wings, 15 long-range radars and two additional facilities. Luiken also served as commander of the 325th Mission Support Group at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida where he was responsible for daily security, communication, contracting, civil engineering, logistics and readiness, personnel support and quality of life programs serving more than 21,000 personnel.

Luiken earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, and master’s degrees in management from Troy State University and in strategic studies from Air University in Alabama. He is a command pilot with 4,000 flying hours.

Administration Commissioner Becky Hultberg

Becky Hultberg has been named Administration commissioner. She is currently working for Providence Health & Services leading the organization’s efforts in communications, marketing, community relations and web communication. Before joining Providence, Hultberg was vice president of public relations and strategy for Bradley Reid & Associates.

Hultberg also served in the office of Governor Frank H. Murkowski in several positions, including press secretary, special assistant, and boards and commissions director. In those roles she handled a variety of statewide policy and communications issues. A lifelong Alaskan, Hultberg holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Abilene Christian University with minors in economics and public service.

Commerce, Community and Economic Development Commissioner Susan Bell

Governor Parnell has retained Susan Bell as Commerce, Community and Economic Development commissioner. Bell had previously served as a special assistant to the governor working closely with the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. Originally from Nome, Bell is a shareholder of Bering Straits Native Corporation and Sitnasuak Native Corporation. She served as a vice president for Goldbelt Incorporated, with responsibility for the marketing and management of nearly a dozen separate business ventures.

Bell has also served as a partner for an Alaska research and consulting firm. She has contributed to numerous analyses of Alaska’s industries and economy. Bell has helped many Alaskans enhance their economic status and quality of life through strategic development of diverse projects, including roads and docks, and recreational facilities.

Environmental Conservation Commissioner Larry Hartig

Governor Parnell has retained Larry Hartig as Environmental Conservation commissioner. Hartig is an attorney with more than 20 years experience in environmental law, regulations, permits and land use issues.

Prior to his appointment in 2007 by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, he was in private practice as an attorney with the Anchorage law firm of Hartig Rhodes Hoge & Lekisch, PC. Joining the firm in 1983, Hartig worked primarily on environmental, natural resources and commercial matters. His practice included assisting clients in obtaining environmental and other permits for natural resource development projects, as well as projects involving environmental compliance, and cleanup of contaminated properties.

Hartig has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah and received his Juris Doctorate from Lewis and Clark College. He is a member of the Alaska Bar Association and a former member of the State Board of Forestry.

Acting Fish and Game Commissioner Cora Campbell

Cora Campbell has been named acting Fish and Game commissioner. She currently serves as fisheries policy advisor and special assistant to Governor Sean Parnell with responsibilities for fisheries, game, environmental conservation, natural resources, and Arctic policy issues. She has served as the governor’s representative to various boards and committees, including the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute Board of Directors. Campbell has served as executive director of the Petersburg Vessel Owners Association and was an advisory panel member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and the North Pacific Research Board.

Campbell received a bachelor’s degree in education from Pacific Lutheran University. A lifelong Alaskan, Campbell grew up in Petersburg, where she spent her early years working in the seafood industry.

Source of News:

Office of the Governor
www.gov.state.ak.us

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