Gov. Mike Dunleavy is announcing that Chief of Staff Ben Stevens will be leaving the administration to become the new vice president of external affairs and transportation at ConocoPhillips Alaska. Mr. Stevens last day in the governor’s office will be announced soon.
“I want to thank Ben for his hard work and service to the State of Alaska the past two years. His knowledge and political acumen have been an asset to the administration and I wish him the very best in his new role at ConocoPhillips Alaska,” Dunleavy said.
The governor appointed Deputy Chief of Staff Randy Ruaro to serve acting chief of staff until a permanent replacement is named. Tyson Gallagher, formerly with GCI and previously with the Parnell Administration in OMB, was named deputy chief of staff.
Ruaro, originally from Ketchikan, lives in Juneau and has served as chief of staff for Sen. Bert Stedman in recent years before joining the governor’s team as deputy chief of staff.
The current vice president of external affairs for ConocoPhillips, Scott Jepsen, is retiring.
