People: Kip Knudson back as DC director of Office of Governor

JOHN CROWTHER NOW WITH SEN. MURKOWSKI’S ENERGY COMMITTEE

The former chief of Alaska’s Washington, D.C. Office of the Governor is returning to that post, Must Read Alaska has learned.

Kip Knudson had served in the same role, titled “director of state and federal relations,” under former Gov. Sean Parnell beginning in 2011, upon the retirement of the long-time director John Katz, who had served Alaska in that role for 32 years.

The director of the DC office is the point person for federal and state relations and keeps the Administration apprised of anticipated actions in Congress.

Knudson served for more than four years as the director, but was eventually replaced by former Gov. Bill Walker, who assigned Craig Fleener to the prestigious post.

Later, Walker assigned John Crowther to head up the D.C. office.

Knudson, meanwhile, stayed in the nation’s capital and was on Sen. Murkowski’s Energy Committee staff for a period, before being hired as the director of federal affairs for Marathon Oil Company and Andeavor. His wife works in the DC office of Congressman Don Young.

Alaskans also know Knudson as the former board chair of the Alaska Chamber of Commerce, board chair of the Alaska Air Carriers Association, board chair of Hospice of Anchorage, and board member of the Alaska Resource Development Council, among other charitable and civic roles.

As for Crowther, he has officially accepted a position as counsel to Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Crowther, born and raised in Anchorage and a graduate of Grace Christian School, was a special assistant at the Alaska Department of Natural Resources under Gov. Parnell, before being shifted to Alaska’s DC office under Walker. He has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Dartmouth College and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. Crowther is considered an expert on oil and gas issues.