Gov. Sarah Palin today named Tom Irwin as commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources. Marty Rutherford has been named deputy commissioner.
Irwin was DNR commissioner from January 2003 to October 2005 and currently is vice president of government and public affairs for Golden Valley Electric Co. He headed the Palin transition team for DNR; he has a bachelor of science in mineral engineering-chemistry from the Colorado School of Mines.
Palin cited Irwin’s “experience, talent and know-how to manage Alaska’s resources and bring those resources, including Alaska’s gas reserves, to market.”
Rutherford has been acting DNR commissioner since November 2006; she was deputy DNR commissioner from 1992-2005.
Palin said “Marty can now dedicate all her energies to lead our gasline team.”
