Alaska Natural Resources commissioner Dan Sullivan is on his way to Afghanistan. Sullivan was recalled to active duty with the US military, according to DNR spokesperson Elizabeth Bluemink. His deployment began on Sunday.
Sullivan will be on leave from his state duties for six weeks. During that time, deputy DNR commissioner Joe Balash will act in Sullivan’s place.
Sullivan has served the state as DNR commissioner for the past three years. According to his military bio, he currently serves as the executive officer of the 4th Marine Division’s Anti-Terrorism Battalion, described as the largest battalion in the Marine Corps Reserve.
He has previously been recalled to duty, including from December 2004 to April 2006, and in early 2009.
APTI Reporter-Producer Ellen Lockyer started her radio career in the late 1980s, after a stint at bush Alaska weekly newspapers, the Copper Valley Views and the Cordova Times. When the Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, Valdez Public Radio station KCHU needed a reporter, and Ellen picked up the microphone.
Since then, she has literally traveled the length of the state, from Attu to Eagle and from Barrow to Juneau, covering Alaska stories on the ground for the AK show, Alaska News Nightly, the Alaska Morning News and for Anchorage public radio station, KSKA
elockyer (at) alaskapublic (dot) org | 907.550.8446 | About Ellen
