Bob Desautel

GAPP Board of Directors Chairman

Bob Desautel is co-founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Global Seas and Nina Fisheries, Inc. In 1994, he co-founded Nina Fisheries, a business that later developed internationally as it extended to Chile and Argentina in 1998. In 2001, Bob co founded Global Seas, a subsidiary of Nina Fisheries, that quickly became one of the West Coast’s premier vessel management companies. Under Bob’s direction, Global Seas’ expanded its business enterprise to the East Coast and ventured into the maritime research field in 2002.

In 1978, while studying business at the University of Nevada, Bob began his career as a deckhand fishing in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. In 1980, he advanced to the role of Captain and operated various fishing vessels. Bob possesses a United States Coast Guard (issue no.7) Masters 3000 ITC License. In 2002, he retired from the ocean to focus on the expansion of Global Seas.

Bob has served as President and Member of the Board of the North Pacific Fishing Vessel Owners’ Association, advocating safety education for the commercial fishing industry by providing information about USCG requirements, OSHA compliance standards, MARPOL, hands-on training programs, and safety seminars and workshops. In 1993, Bob co-founded United Catcher Boats, served as a Member of the Board and later as Vice President, all the while promoting the organization’s importance to the Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska and West Coast fisheries. His efforts serving on these Boards, as well as his involvement in other various organizations, have both improved safety and created efficiencies in the commercial fishing and maritime industries.

Currently, Bob is on the board of the directors with the Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) and United Boat Catchers (UBC). His involvement with GAPP and the fishing industry is to promote, elevate and expand Wild Caught Alaskan Pollock’s profile to tablecloth restaurants and grocery stores across North America.

Bradley Harris

Professor of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Alaska Pacific University

Brad Harris is a Professor of Marine and Environmental Sciences at Alaska Pacific University where he directs the Fisheries Aquatic Science & Technology Laboratory. Dr. Harris focuses on multidisciplinary applied research aimed at developing decision support systems for fisheries management. His work spans a wide array of fields including fish and fisheries ecology, fishing operations and conservation engineering and quantitative human dimensions. He serves on the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee and several expert working groups advising the International Council for Exploration of the Sea and the Food and Agriculture Organization. Dr. Harris earned a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Graduate School of Marine Sciences. He is from Homer, Alaska and prior to entering academia, he commercially fished for salmon, served as an Alaska Department of Fish & Game research vessel Boat Officer, and as Master of an oil spill response vessel operating in the Beaufort Sea. 

Caitlin Yeager

Vice President of Policy and Engagement, At-Sea Processors Association

Caitlin Yeager is the Vice President of Policy and Engagement at the At-Sea Processors Association (APA), a trade organization representing U.S.-flagged catcher/processor vessels operating in the Alaska pollock fishery. In this role, Caitlin leads APA’s policy development, regulatory engagement, and external affairs, with a strong focus on science-based fisheries management, environmental stewardship, and industry collaboration.

She brings over a decade of professional experience from Dutch Harbor, AK, working closely with federal agencies, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, and science and conservation partners to advance ecosystem-based management, reduce bycatch, and incorporate climate resilience into fishery operations.

Raised in Savannah, Georgia, she spent much of her life on the water and gaining firsthand appreciation for the people and practices that sustain working waterfronts through a family boat-building business. That early experience shaped her lifelong commitment to the health and sustainability of marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

Craig Morris

GAPP CEO

Dr. Craig Morris is GAPP’s exuberant CEO. He’s been a lifelong passionate advocate and ambassador for the U.S. food and agriculture industry and has dedicated his entire professional career to advancing the interests of various U.S. agricultural commodities. He’s done it all, from pork to beef to poultry and everything in between working for the National Pork Board (NPB), United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service and Future Beef Operations, LLC, to name a few. Craig received his Bachelor of Science degree with a distinction in Animal Science from Iowa State University and served as a regent’s graduate fellow while earning his Doctorate in Animal Science from Texas A&M University.

Dan Martin

General Manager, Alaska Boat Company

Commercial fisherman in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska for 41 years, primarily pollock trawling. Have held a USCG 1600 ton Master’s license for 32 years. Retired off of the water in 2022 and am currently the GM at Alaska Boat Company. Alaska Boat Company manages 5 Bering Sea pollock trawlers and two crab vessels.

Daryl Gormley

CEO, Aquamar

Daryl Gormley is the CEO of Aquamar.  Aquamar is a seafood processor based in California with a heritage in surimi for California roll, serving as the gateway for the explosive growth of sushi.  Building on that history of innovation, Aquamar is pivoting to curate authentic seafood experiences with convenience solutions to enable consumers and restaurant patrons to eat more seafood.

Prior to Aquamar, Gormley held a series of leadership positions in general management, marketing, sales, manufacturing, distribution, IT, and engineering in the food industry for a wide range of companies including Sara Lee, Kraft, Frito-Lay, Grande Cheese, Weston Foods, and Wismettac Asian Foods.

Gormley believes everyone should have access to healthy food, particularly children.  He knows that teamwork, supported by diversity in an inclusive environment, delivers the best business results.  Gormley’s focus is on addressing unmet market opportunities as the path to creating shareholder value.

Gormley received his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Michigan and his MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Dr. Peter Tyedmers

Ecological Economist, Professor in the School for Resource and Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Dr. Steve Martell

Sea State Inc

Dr. Steve Martell brings a rare blend of hands-on fishing experience, world-class science, and real-world problem solving to the stage. After financing his university years by commercial salmon fishing each summer, Steve went on to earn his PhD in Fisheries Science in 2002. His groundbreaking work earned him the prestigious Canada Research Chair in Quantitative Fisheries Science at the University of British Columbia in 2012.

In 2016, after four years with the International Pacific Halibut Commission, Steve joined Sea State Inc., where he partners directly with fishing companies to harness data that reduces bycatch and drives smarter, more sustainable operations. His expertise is trusted at the highest levels—he has served on the Scientific and Statistical Committees for both the North Pacific and Western Pacific Fisheries Management Councils.

Beyond his scientific credentials, Steve is known for his energy, humor, and adventurous spirit. Whether he’s carving through the streets on his one-wheel, pushing limits at CrossFit, or soaring over mountain peaks with a paraglider, Steve brings the same passion and bold perspective to his audiences. His talks leave listeners inspired, informed, and ready to think differently about the challenges—and opportunities—of fisheries and beyond.

Dr. Suresh A. Sethi

Research Faculty in the Fisheries Aquatic Science & Technology Lab at Alaska Pacific University. Director of the Aquatic Research and Environmental Assessment Center, Brooklyn College, City University of New York.

Suresh A. Sethi is Research Faculty in the Fisheries Aquatic Science & Technology Lab at Alaska Pacific University and serves as Director of the Aquatic Research and Environmental Assessment Center at Brooklyn College, City University of New York. Dr. Sethi works at the interface of ecological, economic, and quantitative sciences to advance solutions to marine and freshwater fisheries sustainability challenges. His collaborative approach to fisheries science encompasses industry cooperators, regulatory agencies, conservation organizations, and academia. Dr. Sethi’s research has contributed to ecosystem management across scales, including global fisheries status assessments, modeling to inform marine spatial planning, and development of risk management strategies for fisheries. Dr. Sethi earned a Ph.D. in fisheries science from the University of Washington. Prior to his work in academia, Dr. Sethi served as the Regional Statistician for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Alaska Region and commercially fished salmon.

Heather Handyside

COO of Thompson & Co

Heather Handyside is president and COO of Thompson & Co. Public Relations where she oversees agency operations. 

Prior to joining T&C, Heather served as chief communications officer for GCI, Alaska’s largest telecommunications company, where she was responsible for all internal and external messaging for corporate branding, infrastructure, and policy. She also managed the company’s state government affairs program.

Heather also served as press secretary to U.S. Senator Mark Begich, director of Emergency Management for the city of Anchorage, and deputy municipal manager for the Municipality of Anchorage. 

Heather graduated from American University in Washington, D.C.

Heather grew up in Pittsburgh (she’s a big Steelers fan!) and is a 20-year Alaska resident. She lives with her family in Spenard. 

Jeremy Woodrow

Executive Director at Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute

Jeremy Woodrow is the Executive Director for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. Jeremy is a born and raised Alaskan whose family has commercially fished in Southeast Alaska for over five decades. He has practiced marketing and public relations in the fields of seafood, state and local government throughout Alaska since 2002. Jeremy is an alumnus of Northern Arizona University where he received his bachelor’s in public relations and bachelor’s in advertising. He lives in his hometown of Juneau, Alaska with his wife and two young children. Jeremy is also active in coaching and volunteering for youth sports programs in which his children participate. He loves to spend every minute of free time with his family in the great outdoors of Alaska and, of course, fishing.

John Henderschedt

President and CEO of Phoenix Processor Limited Partnership

John is the President and CEO of Phoenix Processor Limited Partnership. He started his career in the seafood industry in 1986 as a Russian-speaking joint venture representative on Soviet processing vessels. He then worked in several executive positions in the Alaska seafood processing sector, including at Phoenix Processor from 2001 to 2011. Before returning to Phoenix Processor in 2019, John was employed by Duke University as Executive Director of Fisheries Leadership and Sustainability Forum and by NOAA Fisheries as its Director of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection. John served on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council for seven years and currently serves as a member of National Fisheries Institute Executive Committee, the Chairman of Pacific Seafood Processors Association, and the President of the Alaska pollock Mothership Fleet Cooperative. In his free time, John enjoys cooking, sport fishing, and solving the New York Times crossword.

Jim Johnson

President at Glacier Fish Company LLC

Jim Johnson is President, Chief Executive Officer and a partner in Glacier Fish Company (Glacier), which owns and operates two American Fisheries Act catcher processors and Glacier is the largest owner and manager of North Star Fishing Company which owns two multi-species ground fish catcher processors including a brand-new state of the art vessel commissioned in 2021.  Jim is a board member of Glacier Fish Company and North Star Fishing Company, is a board member of the Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers, is board President of the At-Sea Processors Association (APA) and is a board member of the Pacific Whiting Conservation Cooperative. Prior to his current Role at Glacier, Jim served as President of Glacier since 2011 and was Glacier’s Vice President of Corporate Finance and Development starting in 2009.  Prior to that Jim was Managing Director and divisional head at KeyBanc Capital markets with a focus on maritime industries.  Jim has degrees from the University of Rochester and the University of Pittsburgh.

John Gauvin

John Gauvin has over 30 years of experience in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest working to develop solutions to environmental and management issues affecting large-scale groundfish fisheries. This work includes gear modification to reduce bycatch, redesigning trawls to reduce seafloor effects, and innovations to fishing and catch handling practices to achieve fishery management objectives more efficiently.

Jon Kurland

Regional Administrator for NOAA Fisheries

Jon became Regional Administrator in March 2022. He previously served in three other senior leadership roles in the Alaska Region: Assistant Regional Administrator for Habitat Conservation, Acting Deputy Regional Administrator, and Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources. Before moving to Alaska, Jon was the national Essential Fish Habitat Coordinator based at NOAA Fisheries' headquarters office, and prior to that he worked in the habitat program in NOAA Fisheries' Northeast Region (now called the Greater Atlantic Region).

Jordan Head

Executive Director, Bristol Bay Science and Research Institute (BBSRI)

Jordan Head is the Executive Director of the Bristol Bay Science and Research Institute (BBSRI), where he leads applied fisheries research focused on salmon management, stock assessment, and sustainability. Since stepping into the role in 2023, he has expanded BBSRI’s work beyond Bristol Bay State fisheries to include research in the federal Bering Sea pollock fishery. This includes establishing a genetics lab in Dutch Harbor and launching the first in-season genetic stock identification program for chum salmon bycatch—delivering weekly data that aims to help industry and managers refine bycatch avoidance strategies.

With more than a decade of prior experience at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Jordan has managed large-scale salmon monitoring projects across the Kuskokwim and Bristol Bay regions and led run forecasting efforts used in the active management of the Bristol Bay salmon fishery. He has presented research to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, Alaska legislators, and industry groups, consistently emphasizing the role of innovative science in sustaining Alaska’s fisheries.

Jordan lives in Anchorage with his family, remaining active in subsistence traditions across Southwest Alaska.

Justin Johnson

Captain, F/V Pegasus

Justin Johnson began his commercial fishing career at 15 years old when he started as a processor in the local fish plant in Newport, Oregon. He went to work on the boats in 1998 after high school. His first year in the Bering Sea was 1999. For the past 20 years he has been on the  F/v Pegasus a 100 ft trawler that participates in both the Alaska shoreside pollock fishery as well as the cod trawl fishery in the Bering Sea.

Leah Cuyno

Senior Economist, Northern Economics

Leah Cuyno is a senior economist with Northern Economics, Inc. She has a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Applied Economics from Virginia Tech, with a specialization in Environmental Economics. Her work principally focuses on energy, resource development projects, and economic impact assessment. She is well-versed in using both the IMPLAN and REMI models for conducting input-output analysis to estimate direct and indirect effects of industries and investment projects, using economic parameters such as employment, labor income, value of goods and services, and fiscal impacts to state and local governments.

Leonardo Silveira

COO, River Global

Leonardo Silveira is the COO of River Global. He is an expert in Trade and Marketing, with a strong background managing USDA/FAS programs and delivering impactful marketing strategies across Latin America. His experience in crafting comprehensive trade, marketing, events, reporting, and communication strategies has facilitated market penetration for U.S. products in diverse regions. Leonardo’s deep expertise USDA cooperators, including extensive experience in preparing Market Access reports and studies, "translating" cultural and business practices to facilitate access to trade, as well as enabling a data-driven approach that identifies opportunities and navigates market entry barriers - essential for tens of U.S. companies to succeed in Latin America.

Leonardo is an Economist, also bachelor in International Relations and, has an MBA and Strategic Business Management and International Relations. He is fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. 

Matt Tinning

CEO, At-sea Processors Association

Matt Tinning has worked in fisheries policy for almost two decades, first in the environmental community and more recently with the commercial fishing industry. After stints with Ocean Conservancy, the Marine Fish Conservation Network and Environmental Defense Fund, Matt joined the At-sea Processors Association, where he now serves as CEO. Matt is originally from Australia, and he holds Arts and Law degrees from the Australian National University. He lives in Washington, DC.

Melissa Errend

Economist & Project Manager, Northern Economics

Melissa Errend is an economist and project manager with Northern Economics, Inc. She has a strong interdisciplinary background spanning marine policy and marine biology and has focused her career at the intersection of these disciplines to solve natural resource management issues, particularly in fisheries. Melissa has worked on both the U.S. West Coast and East Coast groundfish catch share programs. In addition, she is an experienced user of fishery data and is passionate about data science and communication.

Prior to joining Northern Economics, Melissa was staff economist at the New England Fishery Management Council and earlier worked with NOAA Fisheries at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, and the West Coast Regional Office.

Michelle Mann

Master of Environmental Studies Student

Michelle is a master’s student at Dalhousie University in the Master of Environmental Studies program and an emerging life cycle assessment practitioner. She holds a Bachelor of Science in environmental science and has three years of professional experience as an environmental educator. Her research focuses on food systems sustainability and ecological economics, and she is excited to be working with GAPP on the Alaska Pollock LCA project.

Mike Kraft

Executive Director for Certified Seafood International

Mike Kraft assumed the role of Executive Director for Certified Seafood International in April 2025.  He also serves as the Executive Director for the FISH Standard for Crew since February 2021.  Prior to his current roles, he was the Vice President Global Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility at Bumble Bee Seafoods, LLC where he led the company’s CSR and sustainability initiatives for over eleven years.   Mike joined Bumble Bee in 2009 after spending five years with The Clorox Company.  In his last role there, he co-led the development of Clorox’s sustainability strategy and drove the strategy across business units and functions.  He previously worked in a broad variety of marketing and finance roles at Clorox, Naturize BioSciences LLC, and 24 Hour Fitness USA.  Before entering the private sector, Mike served eleven years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Harrier jet pilot and aviation safety analyst.  He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and received an MBA from Old Dominion University.

Rich Morgan

USI, Northwest Marine Practice Leader

Ron Rogness

GAPP Director, Industry Relations, Partnerships & Fishery Analysis

Ron Rogness is the GAPP Director of Industry Relations, Partnerships and Fishery Analysis. Ron Rogness previously served as an economic advisor to the Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers. Prior to this role, he was Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Relations for American Seafoods Group in Seattle, Washington. Ron also spent eleven years in seafood purchasing for Long John Silver’s Restaurants and then, after LJS was purchased by Yum! Brands, served seven years in seafood purchasing and government affairs for the Unified Foodservice Purchasing Cooperative, the exclusive supply chain manager for Yum! Brands U.S. restaurants. Ron started his career in the seafood industry in 1980 as a commercial fisherman, first in Washington State and later Alaska. After graduate work in fisheries economics at University of Alaska, he served as staff economist for the North Pacific Fishery Management Council in Anchorage Alaska. Following three years with the Council, Ron spent five years as staff economist and West Coast Government Relations Representative at the National Fisheries Institute.

Ryan Calkins

Commissioner, Port of Seattle

Ryan Calkins was elected to the Port of Seattle Commission in 2017 and re-elected in 2021. Ryan is an Advisor on Offshore Wind and Maritime Infrastructure at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. For more than a decade, Ryan ran an import and distribution company in Seattle that was recognized for its industry-leading sustainability initiatives. In 2007, he formed Seattle Microfinance Organization, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to capital for entrepreneurs with limited economic resources. Ryan began his career in Central and South America, working for disaster relief and human rights nonprofits.

He received his Master of Arts from Yale University in International Relations and his Bachelor of Arts from Willamette University in Religious Studies. Born and raised in Edmonds by a public school teacher and a small business owner, Ryan now lives in Seattle with his wife and three children.

Commissioner Calkins focuses on sustainable economic development at the Port of Seattle, working to ensure that the region's prosperity is shared among all communities. In 2021, Ryan was recognized for his role in launching Maritime High School with the Laschever Marlinspike Award from the Northwest Maritime Center.

Ryan balances current needs with a long-term vision for the Port of Seattle, to ensure that one of our region's most valuable public assets will continue to thrive for generations to come.

Sam Murphy

GAPP Vice President and APFA Director of Communications

Sam Murphy is the Vice President at GAPP and the APFA Director of Communications. Sam brings extensive experience in executive communications, brand development, and both internal and external communications. Having worked for organizations including AAA and Alaska Airlines as well as the Rose Bowl and Los Angeles Chargers, he has proven successful in crafting impactful narratives that elevate organizational messaging, position internal leaders as trusted voices, and foster engagement across diverse audiences. In his role with GAPP, Sam is responsible for fishery narrative development and storytelling for the Alaska Pollock Fishery Alliance (APFA) as well as fish-focused communications efforts that grow global demand for Wild Alaska Pollock.

Senator Dan Sullivan

Dan Sullivan was sworn in as Alaska’s eighth United States Senator on January 6, 2015.  Sullivan 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. Sullivan also currently serves as the Chairman of the International Republican Institute.

Prior to his election to the U.S. Senate, Sullivan served as Alaska’s Attorney General and Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. As Alaska's Attorney General, Sullivan’s number one priority was protecting Alaskans, their physical safety, financial well-being, and individual rights – particularly Alaska’s most vulnerable. During his tenure he spearheaded a comprehensive statewide strategy – the “Choose Respect” campaign – to combat Alaska’s high rates of domestic violence and sexual assault.  Under Sullivan’s leadership, the Department of Law also undertook an aggressive strategy of initiating and intervening in litigation aimed at halting federal government overreach into the lives of Alaskans and their economy.

As Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Sullivan managed one of the largest portfolios of oil, gas, minerals, renewable energy, timber, land, and water in the world. Working closely with Alaska’s Governor and state legislature, Sullivan developed numerous strategies that spurred responsible resource development, energy security, and a dramatic increase in good-paying jobs across a number of critical sectors in the Alaska economy.  He also developed a comprehensive plan to streamline and reform the state’s regulatory and permitting system.

Sullivan is one of a select number of Alaskan attorneys who has held judicial clerkships on both the highest federal and state courts in Alaska. He served as a judicial law clerk for Judge Andrew Kleinfeld of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Fairbanks, Alaska and for Chief Justice Warren Matthews of the Alaska Supreme Court in Anchorage, Alaska.  Sullivan also served as a judicial law clerk/intern for Judge James L. Buckley on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Sullivan has a distinguished record of military and national security service. He served for 30 years in the United States Marine Corps, retiring on Feb. 1, 2024 as a Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve. Sullivan served in a variety of command and staff billets on active duty and in the reserves, 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, Sullivan 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 served in the Administration of President George W. Bush as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Business under Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He focused on fighting terrorist financing, and implementing policies relating to international energy, economic, trade, finance, transportation, telecommunications, and Arctic issues. Sullivan also served as a Director in the International Economics Directorate of the National Security Council staff at the White House.

Sullivan earned a B.A. in Economics from Harvard University in 1987 and a joint law and Masters of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in 1993. Dan and his wife Julie Fate Sullivan were married in 1994 in Julie’s hometown of Fairbanks, Alaska. They have three daughters.

Senator Lisa Murkowski

Lisa Murkowski, Alaska’s senior U.S. Senator, is a third generation Alaskan proudly serving as the first Alaskan born senator. Murkowski was born in Ketchikan and raised in towns across the state, including Wrangell, Juneau, Fairbanks, and Anchorage. She is married to Verne Martell, and they have two grown sons. Lisa loves spending time in the Alaska outdoors. She’s an avid skier, has hiked on glaciers, enjoys fall duck hunts, and has a pretty impressive King Salmon mounted on her office wall.

Since joining the Senate in 2002, Senator Murkowski has worked tirelessly for Alaskans and earned a reputation in the Senate for her ability to work collaboratively and across the aisle to reach common sense solutions. Murkowski is well-known for her love and dedication to her state, which means putting Alaska first.

A leader on energy and public lands issues, Senator Murkowski recognizes that sound national policy will promote not only job creation and economic growth, but also higher standards of living and greater global stability. She supports the safe and efficient production and use of all forms of domestic energy, as well as research to help develop emerging technologies. Senator Murkowski continues to pursue policies to advance renewable energy, increase energy efficiency, and make America’s energy cleaner, more affordable, and more reliable.

Senator Murkowski has long advocated for the Arctic as a national priority and continues to push the United States to invest in the infrastructure and assets critical to supporting an Arctic strategy. She is leading the charge to recapitalize and expand America’s fleet of icebreakers and has introduced legislation to raise the nation’s presence in the Arctic through two bills that support responsible research and development as well as giving those who live in the region a greater voice on policy and research.

She is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee (Subcommittees –Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Defense; Energy and Water Development; Homeland Security; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies), Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Subcommittee, member of Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, and Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

Sarah Erkmann Ward

President of Blueprint Alaska, Thompson & Co.’s Advocacy and Public Affairs Division

Sarah Erkmann Ward is the president of Blueprint Alaska, Thompson & Co.’s advocacy and public affairs division. Sarah founded Blueprint because she was confident a market existed for a firm offering both public affairs and public relations expertise. 

Prior to starting Blueprint Alaska, Sarah worked as the external affairs manager at the Alaska Oil and Gas Association (AOGA). Prior to AOGA, Sarah served as communications director for Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan.  Her first job after college was with KTUU as a weekend producer. 

Sarah graduated from the University of Oregon. 

She volunteers her time with the Armed Services YMCA, the Alaska Miners Association, the Alaska Chamber, the Public Relations Society of America's Alaska Chapter, and others. Sarah is accredited in public relations by PRSA, and was named Alaska’s “Communicator of the Year” in 2017.

Sarah lives in Anchorage with her family.