Oil Patch Bits: ASRC executive makes history with nomination

ASRC said it is congratulating Tara Sweeney for her nomination to the position of assistant secretary of Indian Affairs. President Trump made the intent to nominate announcement from Washington, D.C., Oct.16. If confirmed by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Sweeney would oversee the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education, among other offices, as well as manage a nearly $3 billion budget. It would be the first and only presidential nomination and U.S. Senate-confirmed position for any Alaska Native in the history of the state.

“I am humbled and honored to be considered for this important position,” said Sweeney. “I look forward to working with this administration and Congress to strengthen the federal government’s relationship with Indian Country.”

The role of the assistant secretary of Indian affairs is to assist and support the Interior secretary in fulfilling the United States’ trust responsibility to federally recognized tribes as well as individual Indian trust beneficiaries.

Originally from Utqiagvik, Sweeney has served ASRC for nearly 20 years in a variety of roles, most recently as executive vice president of external affairs, overseeing government relations for the corporation as well as communications. She has also served on numerous business and nonprofit boards at both the state and national levels. In May of this year, Sweeney wrapped up a two-year chairmanship of the Arctic Economic Council.

In 1998, Sweeney earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial and labor Relations from Cornell University.

Editor’s note: Some of these news items will appear in the next Arctic Oil & Gas Directory, a full color magazine that serves as a marketing tool for Petroleum News’ contracted advertisers. The next edition will be released in March.