Gov. Mike Dunleavy today announced the appointment of Stephen J. Cox as the next Attorney General of Alaska. The appointment takes effect Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, and Cox’s name will be forwarded to the Alaska Legislature for confirmation in the 2026 session.
Gov. Dunleavy praised Cox’s wide-ranging experience in both federal service and the private sector, noting his background as a former US Department of Justice official, United States Attorney, and corporate legal leader.
“Stephen Cox brings a wealth of experience to the Attorney General’s office, and I am confident in his ability to serve Alaskans well,” Dunleavy said. “From his service in the U.S. Department of Justice to his leadership on complex work here in Alaska, Stephen has demonstrated a wide breadth of experience and steadfast dedication to the rule of law.”
“Stephen brings a proven record of service and commitment to Alaska,” Dunleavy added. “I am pleased that he has agreed to continue his public service as Alaska’s Attorney General, and I look forward to working with him to uphold justice and ensure freedom and opportunity for all Alaskans.”
Cox, 48, currently serves as Senior Vice President, Chief Legal and Strategy Officer at Bristol Bay Industrial, an investment platform of Bristol Bay Native Corporation. There he led legal and strategic initiatives on major utility, energy, and resource projects benefiting Alaska Native shareholders. Earlier, he worked as principal attorney for Apache Corporation’s Alaska operations, focusing on Cook Inlet oil and gas ventures.
He is also active in the Anchorage community as a parishioner at Holy Family Old Cathedral, a supporter of the Dominican friars’ Mission Alaska outreach ministry, and a founding board member of a new classical school in South Anchorage.
“I am honored that Governor Dunleavy has invited me to be a part of the Alaska story,” Cox said. “And I am grateful to the Governor and the people of Alaska for the opportunity to serve. Since 2011, I have been privileged to work on Alaska’s development, and my family and I were blessed with the opportunity to move to Anchorage and make Alaska our home. My wife and I are grateful to be able to foster for our three children the best future Alaska can offer. The Anchorage community, and the entire state have become an inseparable part of our lives. I commit to work tirelessly to uphold the rule of law, protect the rights of all Alaskans, and ensure that our state’s laws are enforced with integrity.”
Cox previously held several high-profile federal roles, including U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, where he led a staff of more than 120 personnel and directed prosecutions across 43 counties. His tenure included initiatives on violent crime, child exploitation, drug trafficking, money laundering, and white-collar crime. He also strengthened enforcement strategies and built public-private partnerships to protect seniors and consumers.
In Washington, DC, Cox served as Deputy Associate Attorney General and Chief of Staff in the Department of Justice’s Office of the Associate Attorney General, overseeing major civil and criminal enforcement efforts. He spearheaded policy reforms, regulatory oversight, and interagency corporate enforcement initiatives.
His earlier career includes serving on the William H. Webster Commission reviewing FBI counterterrorism operations after the 2009 Fort Hood attack, advising the director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and practicing as a senior associate attorney at a multinational law firm in Washington, DC.
Cox began his legal career as a law clerk to Judge J. L. Edmondson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He holds a computer science degree from Texas A&M University and graduated summa cum laude with a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. He is licensed in Alaska, Texas, and the District of Columbia.
“The duties are broad, but the role of the Attorney General begins and ends in Alaska and with its people,” Cox said. “It is a privilege to step into this role, and I am committed to serving with fairness and justice.”
Cox and his wife, Cristina, live in Anchorage with their three children. He replaces Treg Taylor, who is expected to announce his candidacy for governor next week.