Governor appoints Pokon DEC commissioner

Petroleum News

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has appointed Emma Pokon as commissioner designee of the Department of Environmental Conservation. The governor said in a Dec. 5 announcement that Pokon has been acting commissioner since August.

"I have full confidence in Acting Commissioner Pokon and her ability to lead the department," Dunleavy said. "She has shown an immense amount of knowledge and prioritizes common sense solutions that balance environmental protection with economic considerations."

Pokon has been with DEC since February 2020. She was previously with the Alaska Department of Law and had served as senior assistant Attorney General assigned to support DEC.

Pokon represented the North Slope Borough in natural resource and environmental matters and was a law clerk for the Fairbanks Superior Court. She has a bachelor's degree in history with a minor in chemistry from Hamilton College, and a JD and a Master of Studies in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School.

"In my almost four years with the agency, I've witnessed the value of DEC's work to our state and residents," Pokon said. I'm honored to continue working with the many dedicated public servants at DEC to protect human health and the wellbeing of Alaskans."

Pokon's name will be forwarded to the Alaska State Legislature for confirmation.

--Petroleum News