Dan Sullivan (Politiker, 1964)

Daniel Scott Sullivan (born 1964) is the former Attorney General of Alaska. Sullivan was appointed to his current office by then-Governor Sarah Palin in June 2009. He tendered his resignation on September 12, 2013, effective September 24th, as Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. On October 15th, 2013, he announced his candidacy for the Republican US Senate seat from Alaska.

Early life and education

Sullivan was born and raised in Fairview Park, Ohio. In 1987, Sullivan graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 1993, he earned a J.D.-M.S.F.S. joint degree from Georgetown University, graduating cum laude. He was a member of the Georgetown Law Journal and interned for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit while at Georgetown.

Military service

Sullivan has served in the United States Marine Corps since 1993, both on active duty and in the reserves. Sullivan, who has spent several years with a reconnaissance battalion based in Anchorage, Alaska, initially left active duty in 1997 when he first moved to Alaska, but has since been recalled to active duty three times: From 2004 to 2006, again in early 2009, and for a six week tour in Afghanistan in July, 2013. Lt. Colonel Sullivan is a recipient of the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

Career

Early career

Sullivan served as a judicial law clerk for Judge Andrew Kleinfeld of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Fairbanks from 1997 to 1998. He then clerked for Chief Justice Warren Matthews of the Alaska Supreme Court in Anchorage from 1998 to 1999. In 2000, he joined the Anchorage office of the Perkins Coie law firm, focusing on commercial law and corporate law. He had joined the Alaska bar that same year. Sullivan also served as vice chairman of the Anchorage Public Facilities Commission and as a member of the Anchorage Veterans Affairs Commission.

White House and State Department

In 2002, Sullivan moved to the Washington, D.C. area, where he headed the International Economics Directorate of the National Economic Council and National Security Council staffs at the White House. In this capacity, Sullivan advised the President of the United States – then George W. Bush – along with the National Security Advisor and NEC chairman. Sullivan left the White House in 2004.

In 2006, Sullivan was appointed by President Bush to the post of United States Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs. The United States Senate unanimously confirmed Sullivan in May of that year. Sullivan served in this capacity until January 2009. Although he resided in Bethesda, Maryland, during this time, he still owned a house in Anchorage and continued to vote in Alaska elections by absentee ballot.

Alaska Attorney General

Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg resigned in February 2009 over the Alaska Public Safety Commissioner dismissal scandal. Governor Sarah Palin appointed the controversial Wayne Anthony Ross for the post, but the Alaska Legislature rejected the appointment. Palin then appointed Sullivan instead, who was sworn into office in June 2009, while the Alaska Legislature was out of session. The Alaska Legislature unanimously confirmed Sullivan's appointment on April 9, 2010.

Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Chairman

On November 18, 2010, shortly after being elected, Alaska Governor Sean Parnell appointed Sullivan as Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, replacing former Commissioner Tom Irwin. In 2013, during his term in office, Sullivan was deployed to Afghanistan for six weeks, in his role as the executive officer of the 4th Marine Division's Anti-Terrorism Battalion.