Brent Goodrum, former director of Mining, Land and Water, has been elevated to deputy commissioner at the Department of Natural Resources.
And Ricky Gease, the former head of the Kenai River Sportfishing Association, has become director of State Parks.
The appointments by Natural Resources Commissioner Corri Feige were announced Wednesday.
“These are the folks working hard to develop, conserve and maximize the use of Alaska’s natural resources to advance the public interest," Feige said.
Also, on Thursday in an appointment in a separate agency, the State of Alaska Joint Boards of Fisheries and Game unanimously voted to nominate Doug Vincent-Lang as commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game. Vincent-Lang, a longtime Fish and Game employee, has been acting commissioner since last month.
Pending appointment by the governor, Vincent-Lang will then be considered for confirmation by the Legislature.
Vincent-Lang in 2012 was named director of the Division of Wildlife and has served as the Endangered Species Act Coordinator for the state.
“I’m pleased there is unanimous support by all members of the Boards of Fisheries and Game. It speaks highly of Doug’s credentials and commitment to the department and the state of Alaska,” said Chairman of the Board of Fisheries Reed Morisky. “We look forward to working with him in the fish and game regulatory process.”
Goodrum, in his new role, will focus on “protecting resources through rigorous permitting, while operating faster and more efficiently to help build a stronger economy for Alaskans,” according to a statement from the agency.
Goodrum is a U.S. Marine Corps retiree, with a master’s degree in operations research from the Naval Postgraduate School. Since 2011, he’s led more than 200 people at the division.
He will now help manage divisions responsible for forestry, state parks, agriculture and departmental support service, the statement said.
As for Gease, "his experience in public lands management closely aligns with the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation’s mission,” the statement said.
Gease worked as a National Park Service ranger in Alaska, executive director of the Kenai Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Kenai River Sportfishing Association. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology from Stanford University, and a Foraker Certificate in Non-Profit Management from the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Former State Parks Director Ethan Tyler will remain with the department, bringing experience in commercial and policy areas to the Division of Oil and Gas.
Marty Parsons, the deputy director of Mining, Land and Water, has been promoted to director of the division.