ALASKA’S RISING STAR GETS SPOTLIGHT
Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan will be one of the speakers at the Republican National Convention, his office has told Must Read Alaska. The exact time will be announced soon, but it will be in “prime time” for television viewers.
Sullivan will be flanked by several freshmen senators who ushered in a strong Republican Congress in 2014.
Sullivan was sworn in as Alaska’s eighth United States Senator in January of 2015. He serves on four Senate committees vital to Alaska: the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee; the Armed Services Committee; the Environment and Public Works Committee; and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
U.S. Senate is his first held elected office. Prior to his election, Sullivan served as Alaska’s Attorney General and Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.
As Commissioner of DNR, Sullivan had responsibility for one of the largest portfolios of oil, gas, minerals, renewable energy, timber, land, and water in the world. He developed initiatives that spurred responsible resource development, energy security, and a new jobs across the Alaska economy. He led the streamlining and reform of the state’s regulatory and permitting system.
Sullivan is an infantry officer and Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. His official biography lists numerous command and staff positions, both active and reserve, including TRAP Force Commander and 81mm mortar Platoon Commander, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable); Weapons Company Executive Officer, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines; Commanding Officer, Delta Company, Anti-Terrorism Battalion; Executive Officer, Echo Company, Fourth Reconnaissance Battalion; and Commanding Officer, 6thAir Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO). In 2004, Sullivan was recalled to active duty for a year and a half to serve as a staff officer to the Commander of U.S. Central Command, General John Abizaid, spending substantial time deployed in the Middle East, the Horn of Africa, and Central Asia. In July 2013, he was recalled to active duty to serve with a Joint Task Force in Afghanistan focusing on dismantling terrorist networks and criminalizing the Taliban insurgency.
Sullivan was U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Business under Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, for President George W. Bush. He served as a Director in the International Economics Directorate of the National Security Council staff at the White House.