Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/06/2025 01:30 PM Senate SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ARCTIC AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation(s): Arctic Domain Awareness Center from the University of Alaska Anchorage | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ARCTIC AFFAIRS
February 6, 2025
1:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Cathy Giessel, Chair
Senator Gary Stevens, Vice Chair
Senator Scott Kawasaki
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Donald Olson
Senator Bill Wielechowski
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION(S): ARCTIC DOMAIN AWARENESS CENTER FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
JEFFREY LIBBY, Principal Investigator and Executive Director
Arctic Domain Awareness Center (ADAC)
University of Alaska Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Delivered a presentation on the Arctic
Domain Awareness Center.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:33:59 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL called the Senate Special Committee on Arctic
Affairs meeting to order at [1:33 p.m.] Present at the call to
order were Senators Kawasaki, Stevens, and Chair Giessel.
^PRESENTATION(S): ARCTIC DOMAIN AWARENESS CENTER FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
PRESENTATION(S): ARCTIC DOMAIN AWARENESS CENTER
FROM
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
1:34:28 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL announced a presentation on the Arctic Domain
Awareness Center (ADAC) from the University of Alaska Anchorage.
1:34:52 PM
JEFFREY LIBBY, Principal Investigator and Executive Director,
Arctic Domain Awareness Center (ADAC), University of Alaska
Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska, said ADAC Addressing Rapid Changes
through Technology, Innovation, and Collaboration (ADAC-ARCTIC)
is the newest Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center of
Excellence. He provided a brief overview of the Center of
Excellence award. He explained that the University of Alaska
Anchorage (UAA) was previously awarded a Center of Excellence
that focused on arctic maritime challenges. ADAC-ARCTIC has a
broader arctic homeland security focus. He noted that ADAC-
ARCTIC is the only Homeland Security Center of Excellence that
focuses on a geographic region. ADAC-ARCTIC assists the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Cybersecurity and
Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and U.S. Customs and
Border Protection (CBP), among others. He briefly described the
work ADAC-ARCTIC is doing to support those agencies.
1:36:53 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL introduced members of the Senate Special Committee
on Arctic Affairs. She invited Mr. Libby to introduce himself
for the record.
1:37:20 PM
MR. LIBBY introduced himself and provided his credentials.
1:37:43 PM
MR. LIBBY said that ADAC-ARCTIC is following in the legacy of
the previous UAA Center for Excellence and building on lessons
learned. He highlighted that ADAC-ARCTIC has an extended 10-year
term and contrasted this with the typical 5-year term length. He
noted forthcoming challenges and an increased focus on Alaska
and the Arctic region. ADAC-ARCTIC will work with the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and indigenous communities
to protect Alaska and to drive education and workforce
opportunities.
1:38:56 PM
MR. LIBBY advanced to slide 2 and provided a brief overview of
ADAC and ADAC-ARCTIC, highlighting relationships with Arctic
homeland security professionals and the importance of adequate
disaster and emergency response:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Mission for Alaska
The Arctic Domain Awareness Center develops research,
technology and human capital to advance Arctic
Homeland Security.
ARCTIC: Addressing Rapid Changes through Technology,
Innovation, and Collaboration.
1:40:55 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked for more information about Norway.
MR. LIBBY replied that ADAC is partnering exclusively with the
University of Tromso - the Arctic University of Norway (UiT). He
briefly mentioned a collaboration between the European Union
(EU) and the US National Science Foundation that would provide
funding and encourage international collaborations and research
opportunities.
SENATOR STEVENS commented that Tromso is in northern Norway.
MR. LIBBY agreed. He commented on the climate and industry in
Tromso, Norway, highlighting the lessons Alaska can learn from
Norway's long history of industrial and commercial
opportunities. He said ADAC also has a relationship with the
Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI), also located in Tromso. He
provided a brief history of the relationship between ADAC and
NPI and highlighted future goals. He commented that ADAC is
still in its nascent stage and expressed satisfaction that these
relationships are already underway. He noted that NPI is
scheduled to visit the University of Alaska in April 2025 to
present to the first student cohort for the Arctic Leadership
Initiative. Discussions will include challenges to Norway, how
Norway is addressing those challenges, and how to encourage
better collaborations and relations between Alaska and Norway.
1:43:42 PM
SENATOR STEVENS encouraged Mr. Libby to inform Chair Giessel of
any opportunities for committee members to learn about and stay
updated on those topics.
MR. LIBBY replied that there are many collaborations and
initiatives underway, including collaborations between the Ted
Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies and the University of
Alaska. He noted that ADAC has unique stakeholders, industry
partnerships, and federal partnerships that emphasize the need
for arctic research. He noted that ADAC does not focus solely on
increasing funding for the University of Alaska or UAA and gave
examples of other programs that could receive funding. He
briefly discussed how some challenges include subject-matter
expertise that may result in international collaborations. He
stated that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding allows
ADAC to partner with national labs and institutions that have
the necessary expertise and modeling capabilities that would
help Alaska and the Arctic region develop solutions to
increasing challenges. He agreed that connection and
collaboration are important.
1:45:18 PM
MR. LIBBY advanced to slide 3 and played a video overview of
ADAC-ARCTIC.
1:48:10 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked whether ADAC is able to work with China.
MR. LIBBY replied that the relationship between the US and China
is government to government and ADAC cannot overstep that
boundary.
1:48:56 PM
MR. LIBBY advanced to slide 4 and provided a brief overview of
Homeland Security Centers of Excellence across the US:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Homeland Security Centers of Excellence
University-led research organizations advancing
solutions to challenges facing federal agencies,
national laboratories, and industry partners. Centers
actively collaborate with academia, policymakers and
the federal government.
• ADAC-ARCTIC, led by the University of Alaska
Anchorage
• Center for Accelerating Operation Efficiency
(CAOE), led by Arizona State University
• Cross-Border Threat Screening and Supply Chain
Defense (CBTS), led by Texas A&M University
• Master of Business Administration - Security
Technology Transition (MBA STT), led by George
Washington University
• National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology,
and Education Center (NCITE), led by University
of Nebraska at Omaha
• Soft Target Engineering to Neutralize the Threat
Reality (SENTRY), led by Northeastern University
• Criminal Investigations and Network Analysis
Center (CINA), led by George Mason University
• Critical Infrastructure Resilience Institute
(CIRI), led by the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign
• Coastal Resilience Center (CRC), led by the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
MR. LIBBY noted that, while other centers focus on a specific
area of interest for homeland security abroad, ADAC-ARCTIC
focuses on all international areas of interest, as the Arctic
region faces unique geographic challenges. He expressed
confidence in the University of Alaska's ability to address the
issues and highlighted partnerships with business and industry
stakeholders. He reiterated that ADAC-ARCTIC is a 10-year,
cooperative agreement and ADAC is considering the potential for
a long-term center of excellence.
1:50:48 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL observed that slide 4 names various universities
within the US and asked how ADAC is partnering with Canada.
MR. LIBBY replied ADAC has a relationship with Canada that is
facilitated through DHS. In addition, the University of Alaska
has other relationships and research collaborations with Canada.
He briefly described some of the collaborations between ADAC and
Canada, including US Coast Guard initiatives. He clarified that
nothing is solidified and indicated that ADAC would focus on
relationships that would ensure any resulting research
activities and programs are beneficial to Alaska.
CHAIR GIESSEL commented that Canadian Rangers are similar to
Alaska's village public safety officers (VPSOs).
MR. LIBBY agreed. He briefly discussed the work done by Canadian
Rangers and contrasted this with VPSO.
1:53:09 PM
MR. LIBBY advanced to slide 5 and discussed the four themes that
underpin ADAC-ARCTIC, along with current and upcoming projects:
[Original punctuation provided.]
UAA: Building Legacy for Alaska
ADAC-ARCTIC provides research solutions to solve
Homeland Security challenges. Delivers innovative
education and workforce development strategies.
Prepares future arctic leaders, researchers, students
and policymakers.
Accomplishes mission through projects aligned with
partners and key themes:
• Advance All-Domain Situation Awareness
• Improve Understanding of Risks and Impacts
• Enable Adaptation for Resilience
• Expand Collaboration and Cooperation
1:54:29 PM
MR. LIBBY advanced to slide 6, containing a flow chart to
illustrate the relationship between ADAC-ARCTIC, the US
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), University of Alaska
Anchorage (UAA), University of Alaska (UA), and other
organizations. He noted that, while the ADAC-ARCTIC is housed at
UAA, ADAC-ARCTIC is a part of the broader University of Alaska
system. He highlighted various research and education programs
throughout the UA system that can benefit ADAC-ARCTIC. He
highlighted the ADAC-ARCTIC Executive Counselors and the
Strategic Trajectory Committee. He expressed confidence in the
timeline overall and said ADAC-ARCTIC will launch new research
projects in the coming year.
1:58:00 PM
MR. LIBBY advanced to slide 7, containing a flow chart to
illustrate how UAA is addressing pressing challenges in the
Arctic. He highlighted paths for risks and impacts,
collaboration, and resilience. He noted various projects and
indicated that projects would be discussed in greater depth in a
future slide. He highlighted collaborative projects with
indigenous elders.
1:59:29 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL commented that this is a diverse group.
MR. LIBBY agreed.
1:59:37 PM
MR. LIBBY advanced to slide 8, containing an infographic of the
UAA strategic approach, including Arctic Science and Technology
initiatives, empowerment and traditional knowledge, and
workforce and educational programs. He briefly discussed the
Reliable Arctic Power and Intelligent Energy Resilience project
and its importance to Alaska. He highlighted annual workshops,
which bring national and international collaborations for
various challenges. He explained the use of a foresight model to
consider potential future challenges.
2:01:27 PM
MR. LIBBY advanced to slide 9, containing a list of UAA
Education Partners. He noted that these are current university
partnerships. He surmised that the network would continue to
grow as ADAC branches out to consider research activities and
educational programs. He highlighted the arctic fellowship and
arctic summer internship programs.
2:03:07 PM
MR. LIBBY advanced to slide 10, containing a list of business
and industry partnerships. He pointed out that ADAC has made
many partnerships in the short time since its inception and
opined that this is exceptional. He highlighted the Marine
Exchange of Alaska and UIC Sciences. He briefly described the
collaboration between ADAC and UIC Sciences, which is integral
to ADAC operations in the Barrow region. This partnership
provides a necessary understanding of the logistics of working
on tribal lands and with Indigenous communities. He noted that
ADAC has two individuals (from ADAC Strategic Trajectory
Committee and Alaska Native Success Initiative (ANSI)) working
to build Indigenous relationships statewide. He stated that this
would strengthen communication and trust between ADAC and
Alaska's rural Arctic communities and Indigenous partners.
2:04:55 PM
MR. LIBBY advanced to slide 11 and discussed the mission of
ADAC-ARCTIC:
[Original punctuation provided.]
UAA: Strategic Service
ADAC-ARCTIC
• Direct projects and research transition between
Dept. of Homeland Security and stakeholders.
• Expand research and development through new
project initiatives and engagement with Dept. of
Homeland Security and stakeholders.
• Education and workforce solutions connect ADAC-
ARCTIC, industry, students, professionals and
communities.
• Agency and partner outreach to inform research
initiatives and advance ADAC-ARCTIC's networks.
2:06:47 PM
MR. LIBBY advanced to slide 12 and discussed how ADAC is
addressing Arctic environmental safety:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Arctic Environmental Safety
• Assess feasibility and impact of wellhead
ignition blowouts.
• Develop response framework for Federal, State and
Local Agencies.
• Advanced research methods through droplet
distribution and combustion model.
• Modeling downwind dispersion to study potential
impacts on indigenous and tribal communities in
Arctic.
MR. LIBBY emphasized the importance of working with federal
agencies and local communities.
2:08:25 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL asked if this could be a blowout in a subsea well
or on the surface.
MR. LIBBY replied that current models are considering surface
blowouts. He expressed hope that ADAC would assess the
feasibility and impact of sub-surface blowouts in the future.
2:08:47 PM
MR. LIBBY advanced to slide 13 and discussed how ADAC is
addressing risk management:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Risk Management Strategy
• Adapt, Assess, and Mitigate Risks in Arctic --
multi-stakeholder framework.
• Field research and workshops -- data collection,
resources, constraints, and vulnerabilities.
• Issue-based analysis to map challenges,
opportunities and sources of resilience.
• Case studies, exercises, and game theory modeling
to inform policymakers with actionable insights
for decision making.
MR. LIBBY said ADAC is working in partnership with the
University of Alaska, University of New Hampshire, University of
Buffalo, and the University of Maryland. He highlighted field
research in arctic communities that would assess community
challenges and concerns, along with local dynamics. He stated
that this research would ensure communities have a voice with
respect to what is impactful to them and would provide
actionable insights for decision making. This research began in
Nome.
2:10:00 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL asked whether the challenges include port
improvements, energy sources (e.g. nuclear), and the proposed
Graphite One mine.
MR. LIBBY replied yes. He explained that researchers are working
with communities to better understand how each community would
rank those challenges. He stated that working with communities
and stakeholders to put theories in place and develop
situational awareness, which ADAC can then provide to different
agencies. He offered to provide additional information on this
project.
2:11:29 PM
MR. LIBBY advanced to slide 14:
[Original punctuation provided.]
UAA: Arctic Energy Resilience
Reliable Arctic Power & Intelligent Energy Resilience
Initiative.
• Addresses applicability gaps for renewable and
green energy in Arctic.
• Evaluate renewable energy sources for operation
in the Arctic region.
• Assess regional and community Arctic resources
and apply renewable technology solutions.
• Provides operational framework for technologies
to meet objectives and metrics.
MR. LIBBY emphasized that this is a wholistic approach to energy
resources for specific regions and communities.
2:12:33 PM
MR. LIBBY advanced to slide 15 and discussed the ADAC drone
project:
[Original punctuation provided.]
UAA Arctic Drone Capacity Building
Drone Community of Practice to Support Homeland
Security Mission.
• Develop sustainable drone community of practice
in Bering Strait region.
• Community assessments using USA-made drones to
supply situational awareness before, during, and
after a disaster response.
• Training agencies and partners for enhanced
situational awareness and response operations in
Western Alaska.
MR. LIBBY stated that FEMA and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol
are interested in this project, for real-time information and
surveillance efforts. He surmised that this project, with its
unique capability, would see a great deal of activity in the
future.
2:14:24 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL added that it is especially important with China
and Russia, along with the many ships that pass through the
Bering Strait.
MR. LIBBY agreed.
2:14:44 PM
MR. LIBBY advanced to slide 16 and provided an overview of the
ADAC-ARCTIC Fellows program:
[Original punctuation provided.]
UAA: Arctic Human Capital
Investing in Future Homeland Security Professionals:
• ADAC-ARCTIC Fellows Program Engages provides
technical and professional development
experiences.
• Fellowship is open to undergraduate, graduate,
and advanced graduate students.
• Engages with Minority-Serving Institutions and
Significant Minority Enrollment and Title III
waiver institutions.
MR. LIBBY said that, upon graduation, fellows must contribute to
the greater good of society and offered examples.
2:16:28 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked how many students are currently involved
in the ADAC-ARCTIC Fellows program and inquired about the future
of the program.
MR. LIBBY replied that there are two different awards and a
total of 23 students. The ADAC-ARCTIC Fellows program has 11
students. The UAA Applied Environmental Research Center's
Scientific Leadership Award brings an additional 12.
2:17:19 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked if ADAC expects the number of fellows to
grow.
MR. LIBBY replied that he is hopeful. He surmised that the
fellowship will grow and emphasized the competitive nature of
the program. He indicated that funding is an issue.
2:18:03 PM
MR. LIBBY advanced to slide 17:
[Original punctuation provided.]
UAA: Integrated Arctic Education
• Develop highly skilled workforce to advance
Arctic initiatives.
• Educational pathways to build the next generation
of Arctic leaders, researchers, scientists and
policymakers.
• Arctic-oriented internship with Arctic Field
Research Mission on North Slope - align student
research to student goals.
• Scholarship and development opportunities for
undergraduates, graduate students, and
professionals.
MR. LIBBY explained that this is a collaboration and includes
the Arctic Regional Security Orientation Course (ARSOC) offered
through the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies
(TSC). He said that this ensures that homeland security
professionals have a pipeline to professional development
opportunities through the DOD regional center. He briefly
discussed the topics covered, including cyber studies. He
highlighted education related to working in the arctic,
particularly for those who have not done so previously. He noted
integrated work with Idaho National Laboratory, which takes a
wholistic view of cyber-security initiatives. He briefly
described this project, which address strengths, weaknesses, and
gaps associated with various cyber challenges. He said the
project would create programs for DHS, state, federal, and
tribal partners
2:19:53 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL commented that the State of Alaska Division of
Retirement and Benefits could benefit from this.
2:20:01 PM
MR. LIBBY advanced to slide 18:
[Original punctuation provided.]
UAA: Arctic Workforce Foundations
Building Future Workforce for the Arctic
• Attract, develop, and retain a workforce that
meets needs of changing Arctic.
• Develop federally recognized Registered
Apprenticeship programs through collaboration
with education partners.
• Create pathways for students and professionals to
experience in Alaska and Arctic conditions
related to Homeland Security challenges.
MR. LIBBY explained that the University of Alaska has a
sponsorship through the US Department of Labor (USDOL) to
develop USDOL registered apprenticeship programs. The goal is to
create opportunities for professionals and students to move into
homeland security enterprise positions. He said ADAC is
currently working with the Alaska Maritime Education Consortium
(AMEC) to identify employment gaps and develop apprenticeship
programs to fill those gaps. He said one possibility is to
funnel students to the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS),
which he opined is a great opportunity. He stated that
cybersecurity may be the next apprenticeship option, as this is
a heavy focus. He provided a brief overview of additional
initiatives, including a UAA interdisciplinary Master of Science
with a focus on arctic security. This degree program, which is
in collaboration with TSC, will also include a cyber-security
focus option.
2:23:14 PM
MR. LIBBY advanced to slide 19 and discussed the ADAC Indigenous
Elders' project. He emphasized the importance of giving
Indigenous elders a voice and ensuring they feel welcome:
[Original punctuation provided.]
UAA
Harnessing Traditional Knowledge
Utilize knowledge and experience of Arctic Indigenous
peoples
• Build connections between Elders, Knowledge
Keepers, and Leaders and ADAC-ARCTIC.
• Leader-in-Residence Program strengthens
stakeholder knowledge of Indigenous community-
specific teachings and cultural practices.
• Engaged conversations on Indigenous traditions,
languages, language revitalization, and issues
impacting circumpolar health and Alaska Native
communities
MR. LIBBY added that each research project has a student
component. Students are involved in field work and getting real-
world experience, which hopefully leads to employment upon
graduation.
2:25:32 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked if the ADAC-ARCTIC includes both high
school and college students.
MR. LIBBY replied that it is limited to college students. He
explained that students must be 18 or older and must have US
citizenship. Admitted students must maintain a 3.3 minimum grade
point average (GPA). He emphasized that the program has rigorous
standards and ADAC-ARCTIC has staff to offer guidance and ensure
students remain on track. Students who are from outside of the
University of Alaska system also work with faculty from their
home university. He noted that students must present research
findings at conferences. Students also help with data analysis
and literature reviews.
2:26:27 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI thanked Mr. Libby for the presentation and
opined that this is good information. He asked about potential
funding issues, particularly with DHS funding.
MR. LIBBY replied that, at this time, nothing has changed and
ADAC is status quo with respect to funding. He said ADAC will
remain on course until it receives a directive from its funding
agency.
2:27:31 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL thanked Mr. Libby for his presentation.
MR. LIBBY encouraged members to reach out to ADAC and emphasized
that ADAC is available to support the committee and upcoming
arctic initiatives.
2:28:38 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Giessel adjourned the Senate Judiciary Standing Committee
meeting at 2:28 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 2.6.25 UAA, ADAC-ARCTIC Presentation to Senate Arctic Affairs Committee.pdf |
SAAF 2/6/2025 1:30:00 PM |