Politics

Dunleavy appoints oil executive to lead Alaska’s natural resources department

Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced Friday that he is appointing a former oil executive to serve as the commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.

John Boyle most recently worked as the government affairs manager for Santos, an Australian oil and gas company that announced earlier this year it would invest $2.6 billion in developing the Pikka oil field on Alaska’s North Slope.

“His legal training, knowledge of Alaska’s resource industries and commitment to developing our resources to the maximum benefit of all Alaskans, and in the safest possible manner, make him an excellent choice to lead the department during my second term,” Dunleavy said in a statement.

Boyle moved to Alaska to clerk for the Alaska Court System in 2010, after earning a law degree from the Brigham Young University in Utah, according to his LinkedIn page. He then worked for the North Slope Borough as assistant borough attorney and director of government affairs, before working as director of government affairs for oil giant BP. He began working for Santos in 2019.

Boyle will assume the commissioner position on Jan. 6. His confirmation is subject to approval by the Legislature. He replaces Akis Gialopsos, who has served in the role on an interim basis since July. Gialopsos, who previously served as Dunleavy’s legislative director, is leaving the administration, a Dunleavy spokesperson said.

Gialopsos replaced former Commissioner Corri Feige, who left the administration in June.

Iris Samuels

Iris Samuels is a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News focusing on state politics. She previously covered Montana for The AP and Report for America and wrote for the Kodiak Daily Mirror. Contact her at isamuels@adn.com.

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