Legislature(2025 - 2026)GRUENBERG 120
05/15/2025 08:00 AM Senate JOINT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation(s): Current Status of the Armed Forces in Alaska | |
| Briefing: Joint Armed Services Committee Projects | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
JOINT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
May 15, 2025
8:07 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Andrew Gray, Co-Chair
Senator Scott Kawasaki, Co-Chair
Representative Maxine Dibert
Representative Ky Holland
Representative David Nelson
Senator Kelly Merrick
Senator Forrest Dunbar
PUBLIC MEMBERS PRESENT
Colonel George Vakalis, retired - Anchorage (via teleconference)
Brigadier General Julio Banez Anchorage (via teleconference)
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Louise Stutes
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Senator Mike Shower
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION(S): CURRENT STATUS OF THE ARMED FORCES IN ALASKA
- HEARD
BRIEFING: JOINT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE PROJECTS
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
CRAIG CHRISTENSON, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented an update on the status of the
armed forces in Alaska.
KYLE JOHANSEN, Staff
Representative Andrew Gray
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a briefing on Joint Armed Services
Committee Interim Projects.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:07:30 AM
CO-CHAIR GRAY called the Joint Armed Services Committee meeting
to order at 8:07 a.m. Present at the call to order were Senators
Dunbar, Merrick, and Co-Chair Kawasaki; and Representatives
present at the call to order were Representatives Dibert,
Holland, Nelson, and Co-Chair Gray. Public members present via
teleconference were Colonel George Vakalis, Brigadier General
Julio Banez.
^PRESENTATION(S): CURRENT STATUS OF THE ARMED FORCES IN ALASKA
PRESENTATION(S): CURRENT STATUS OF THE ARMED FORCES IN ALASKA
8:08:31 AM
CO-CHAIR GRAY announced an update on the current status of the
armed forces in Alaska.
8:08:48 AM
CRAIG CHRISTENSON, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Military &
Veterans Affairs, Anchorage, Alaska, Presented an update on the
status of the armed forces in Alaska. He moved to slide 2, DMVA
Mission:
[Original punctuation provided.]
DMVA Mission
Mission:
• Provide military forces to accomplish missions in
the state and around the world
• Provide homeland security/ defense; emergency
preparedness, response, and recovery
• Provide services to veterans
• Provide military style education and training to
youth at risk of not graduating
Sources:
• Alaska Statute 44.35.020
• Alaska Statute Title 26
• Mission, Vision, and Core Values:
https:\\dmva.alaska.gov\
8:09:32 AM
MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 3, Organization, and said the
Department of Military and Veteran's Affairs (DMVA) is a federal
and state partnership. Alaska is one of seven states where the
Adjutant General also serves as commissioner over a state
department. This position is referred to in the National Guard
as a "Super Tag" and in Alaska is held by Major General Torrence
Saxe. The Alaska Organized Militia is organized within DMVA. He
briefly described other divisions within DVMA:
Veterans Affairs Alaska has 70,000 veterans.
Alaska Military Youth Academy free, quasi military structure
serving 15.5 18 year old students at risk of not graduating.
Homeland Security and Emergency Management assist Alaskan
communities with disasters and emergencies.
Alaska Airspace Corporation a national strategic asset that
administratively is under DMVA and is one of only four vertical
launch facilities in the United States.
Alaska Wing of the Civil Air patrol receives grant funds from
but is not technically part of DVMA.
8:11:35 AM
MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 4, and said the Alaska Organized
Militia is comprised of the Alaska Air National Guard, Alaska
Army National Guard, Alaska Naval Militia, and the Alaska State
Defense Force.
8:11:53 AM
MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 5, and stated that the area of
operations covers all of Alaska using a hub-and-spoke model for
military operations, exercises, disasters, and emergencies. He
explained that supplies are stored in central hubs for easier
access by military aircraft and transported to outlying areas
when needed. He noted that the Army National Guard has 124
members deployed to Poland, Kuwait, Mongolia, Iraq, and various
U.S. states. He added that the Air National Guard has 83 members
deployed to Europe and Southwest Asia.
8:12:57 AM
MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 6, and explained that the Alaska
National Guard operates differently than most National Guards in
the Lower 48. Alaska's National Guard is among the most
operational in the country, conducting numerous 24/7 alert
missions. He highlighted the 176th Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-
Richardson (JBER), which manages combat search and rescue,
strategic and tactical airlift, and air defensemissions
critical to national security. At Eielson Air Force Base, the
168th Wing performs air refueling, which supports fighter
aircraft responding to Russian and Chinese incursions near
[Alaska's] borders. He also noted Clear Space Force Station's
role in missile warning and space surveillance. He listed Alaska
Air National Guard aircraft, including the C-17, C-130, Pave
Hawk Helicopter, and KC-135 refuelers. He stated the unit is
acquiring four additional refuelers.
8:14:25 AM
MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 7 and stated that the Alaska Army
National Guard operates the Ballistic Missile Defense system at
Fort Greely, which plays a critical role in national security.
He explained that when potential incoming missiles are
identified by Air Guard members at Clear Space Force Station,
Army National Guard personnel at Fort Greely are responsible for
intercepting them. He added that the Alaska Army National Guard
also includes aviation, infantry, military police, engineers,
public affairs, and medical [support units].
8:15:04 AM
MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 8 and explained that Alaska is
one of the few states with a naval militia, which primarily
provides manpower and technical support to the National Guard.
The naval militia does not have its own boats. He stated that
the militia has about 50 members, most of whom are Marine Corps
or Navy reservists, with a few retirees contributing their
expertise. He noted that the naval militia mainly assists during
disasters. He cited their involvement in the Mendenhall floods
in Juneau, where they helped with debris removal, shelter
support, and communications.
8:16:00 AM
MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 9 and stated that the Alaska
State Defense Force is statutorily authorized and includes
approximately 225 members located in 25 communities across the
state. He explained that the Defense Force supports both the Air
and Army National Guard during disasters. Recent deployments
have included responses to landslides, wildfires, the Murbach
typhoon, COVID-19, flooding, winter storms, and an earthquake.
He listed their duties as traffic control, debris removal,
sandbag placement, snow shoveling, assisting the Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) at airports during COVID-19,
providing administrative support, and helping with sheltering
and communications.
8:16:58 AM
MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 10 and said he would touch on
highlights.
CO-CHAIR GRAY asked Mr. Christenson to give the number of
members participating in each organization.
8:17:36 AM
MR. CHRISTENSON replied that there are approximately 52 members
in the Alaska Naval Militia, 225 members in the Alaska State
Defense Force, and about 4,000 members in the Alaska National
Guard. He specified that the National Guard includes 1,500 to
1,600 Army National Guard members and around 2,200 Air National
Guard members.
8:18:08 AM
MR. CHRISTENSON continued slide 10 and shared highlights:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Highlights
• State Emergency Operations Center responded to 140
incidents, 12 state disasters, and three federal
disasters
• AMYA graduated 244 cadets; 94 GED, eight HS
diplomas, 26 GED and HS diplomas
• Processed 4,160 new disability claims through the
VA; over $1OOM in disability payments to Alaskan
veterans annually
• Fairbanks Veterans Cemetery grant opportunity
8:19:57 AM
MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 11 and continued sharing
highlights:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Highlights
• AI<NG performed 148 Search and Rescue missions with
199 saves
• AI<AN G Air Refueling scrambled 750 launches,
refueling 1,100 individual receivers, transferring
10 million pounds of fuel
• AI<AN G maintained a high operational pace, enabling
global mobility, airlifting over 20 million pounds
of cargo and 6,453 passengers
• Air Defense Squadron successfully onboarded the
first in the Pacific, Agile Operations
8:21:31 AM
MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide [12] sharing more highlights:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Highlights
• Alaska Army National Guard 2-211th General Support
Aviation Battalion, participated with Special
Operations Forces Arctic Medic 2025 exercise (SOFAM
25) near Fairbanks, Alaska
• Alaska Army National Guard 207th Aviation Troop
Command stationed a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter in
Juneau to support training and mission requirements
across Southeast.
• Radio communications testing done across the state
with Civil Air Patrol partners
• Bison Company, 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry
Regiment performed training in an austere
environment for arctic warfare preparation outside
of Bethel
8:22:47 AM
MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 13 and continued with highlights:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Highlights
Vigilant Guard 24 exercise simulated a massive 9.2
magnitude earthquake with the epicenter in
Southcentral Alaska bringing together approximately
350 participants from local, state, and federal
organizations in a joint, interagency environment
• 168th Wing air refueling services support Red Flag-
Alaska, a PACAF led exercise
• Exercise Gobi Wolf 2024 as part of the Pacific
Resilience Disaster Response Exercise and Exchange
program coordinated by SPP Mongolian National
Emergency Management Agency and US Army Pacific
• 69th Year of Operation Santa Claus in the
communities of Circle, Crooked Creek, and Yakutat
8:23:50 AM
MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 14 and discussed Innovative
Readiness Training (IRT). The program allows organizations and
communities to submit requests for projects to be completed by
military units. He provided examples of various projects
completed by units:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Types of IRT Missions:
• Medical
• Civil Engineering
• Cybersecurity
• Transportation
Who Can Apply:
• Government Entities
• Youth and Charitable Organizations
• Communities
8:26:02 AM
CO-CHAIR GRAY said he recommends IRT to community councils in
his district. It is a way to get assistance with non-state
funded projects such as trail renovations and toxic waste clean-
up.
8:27:06 AM
MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 15 and said many people do not
know about the Alaska National Guard Counterdrug Program. He
provided information about the program and examples of support:
[Original punctuation provided.]
FFY2024 AK Counterdrug Support
18 Soldiers & Airmen
• Embedded Support to 5 LEAs
• 59 Flight Hours-CD Aviation
• 25 Fentanyl/Opioid Cases
• 43,000 Naloxone Kits distributed
• Drug Prevention for 4,347 Alaskans
SUPPORTED INTERDICTION:
• 814,491K Fentanyl User Doses
($10.SM Street Value)
• 121,177K Meth User Doses
($2M Street Value)
• 419,310K of Cocaine User Doses
($4.JM Street Value)
• $652,000 Illicit Currency
8:29:27 AM
MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 16 and discussed the State of
Alaska's 22-year partnership program with Mongolia. Once a year
the National Guard participates in a large-scale activity with
Mongolia. Last year senior leaders from Mongolia visited the
National Guard.
[Original punctuation provided.]
Through the State Partnership Program, the National
Guard conducts military-to-military engagements in
support of defense security goals but also leverages
whole-of-society relationships and capabilities to
facilitate broader interagency and corollary
engagements spanning military, government, economic
and social spheres.
8:30:34 AM
MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 17 and shared the following
headlines:
[Original punctuation provided.]
What's On the Horizon?
May 2025 - Will China Escalate? Despite Short-Term
Stability, the Risk of Military Crisis Is
Rising
April 2025 - China's Military Buildup Threatens Indo-
Pacific Region Security
Oct 2024 - US Sends War ships To Meet China, Russia
Presence Near Alaska
July 2024 - Russia and China Carry Out First Joint
Bomber Patrol Near Alaska
July 2024 - Russian and Chinese Bombers Intercepted
Off Coast of Alaska
MR. CHRISTENSON stated that Major General Saxe has focused
primarily on war preparedness over the past year. He cited
rising tensions with China, particularly regarding Taiwan, as a
significant concern, noting the possibility of conflict within
the next one to two years. He emphasized that the hub-and-spoke
model, statewide outreach, joint exercises with agencies,
active-duty military, and international partners, along with
increasing refueling capacity at Eielson, all support this
readiness. He added that Major General Saxe has held direct
discussions with senior military leaders, including commanders
from U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and U.S. Indo-Pacific
Command (INDOPACOM), to align on military war plans.
8:32:09 AM
MR. CHRISTENSON concluded the presentation and asked if there
were questions.
8:32:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON inquired about the deployment of the
Lakota [helicopters] to the southern border of the United
States.
MR. CHRISTENSON replied that the mission to the southwestern
United States has been ongoing for many years, and Alaska has
periodically participated as part of a rotation. He stated that
currently 20 personnel are assigned, likely in New Mexico, along
with two Lakota helicopters. He clarified that their role is to
support federal agencies such as the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE). The mission focuses on aerial surveillance rather than
direct apprehension.
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON asked for an update on the Black Hawk
helicopter station in Juneau. He referenced a previous mention
of the project and noted that some committee members attended
the unveiling. He requested a timeline for when the station
would be fully operational and what the future plans entail.
8:33:51 AM
MR. CHRISTENSON replied that the Black Hawk station in Juneau is
fully operational and has been conducting training missions. He
stated that the unit is fully prepared to respond to search and
rescue or other operational missions as needed.
8:34:09 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DIBERT thanked Mr. Christenson for providing a
high-level overview of military operations in Alaska. She stated
that she represents Fairbanks and asked about the status of the
veterans cemetery in Salcha. She inquired whether legislators
could assist in facilitating the final stages of breaking ground
for the project.
MR. CHRISTENSON expressed appreciation for the offer of support
and stated that most major timeline steps for the Salcha
veterans cemetery have been completed. He reported that the
project is at 65 percent design, which qualifies it for grant
consideration by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
He added that environmental and archaeological studies are
nearly complete, and the final application is being prepared for
submission. He noted that Director of Veteran Services Bertie
Bowen has strong connections with federal VA officials in
Washington, D.C., and all indications suggest the project is
progressing toward breaking ground.
8:35:49 AM
SENATOR DUNBAR stated that the National Guard co-owns and
manages a large armory facility in Juneau with the University of
Alaska Southeast. He noted that the facility once supported a
larger soldier presence, which has since declined. He questioned
whether any long-term plans or changes in status are being
considered for the facility given the reduced military presence.
MR. CHRISTENSON replied that long-term plans include continued
joint use of the facility by the National Guard and the
University of Alaska Southeast (UAS). He stated that recruitment
efforts in the area are ongoing to strengthen the National
Guard's presence. He acknowledged that while there are fewer
full-time soldiers, the facility is used for M-Day drills and
training. Also, state employees have offices in the facility. He
confirmed that no changes are planned for the facility.
8:37:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON asked for an update on National Guard
recruitment and retention, noting that nationwide recruitment
numbers for the active-duty Army have improved. He requested
specific information on whether the National Guard is
experiencing a similar trend over the past year. He also
inquired about current retention rates and how well the Guard is
maintaining soldier satisfaction.
8:38:03 AM
MR. CHRISTENSON stated that the Alaska Army National Guard is
currently experiencing a positive trend in both recruitment and
retention. He noted that while the state ranked low in these
areas a year or so ago, it now ranks fourth nationally. He
attributed the improvement to strong leadership, particularly
praising Major General Saxe, and emphasized that high morale has
contributed to increased retention and positive word-of-mouth
recruitment. He acknowledged that he did not have exact figures
but offered to provide the data to the committee.
8:39:19 AM
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON asked whether the positive recruitment and
retention trends also apply to rural communities. He referenced
the longstanding focus by The Adjutant General (TAG) on
increasing outreach and recruitment efforts in those areas.
MR. CHRISTENSON stated that efforts to increase National Guard
participation in rural communities are ongoing and emphasized
the importance of community involvement. He encouraged local
schools to invite recruiters and suggested that community events
and festivals serve as valuable opportunities for outreach. He
also highlighted the role of veterans in promoting military
service and noted that programs like Innovative Readiness
Training (IRT) and disaster response efforts help build
visibility and trust. He acknowledged existing challenges but
expressed confidence in the positive momentum.
CO-CHAIR GRAY found public members had no comments and thanked
the presenter for the update.
8:41:40 AM
CO-CHAIR GRAY stated that updates from military policy staff
representing each federal delegation were tentatively scheduled
but, due to scheduling conflicts, the staff will instead submit
written documents to the committee.
^BRIEFING: JOINT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE PROJECTS
BRIEFING: JOINT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE PROJECTS
8:42:05 AM
CO-CHAIR GRAY announced a briefing on Joint Armed Services
Committee interim projects and a meeting of the whole committee
that will also occur during the interim somewhere on the
railbelt.
8:42:28 AM
KYLE JOHANSEN, Staff, Representative Andrew Gray, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, Provided a briefing on Joint Armed
Services Committee Interim Projects. He stated that
Representative Gray tasked him with clarifying the statutory
authority and capabilities of the committee. He said that in his
review, he found that the governing statute, is largely focused
on Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) language. He noted that
BRAC was a major initiative approximately 15 to 20 years ago and
emphasized its significant impact on Alaska.
MR. JOHANASEN explained that the BRAC process officially closed
in 2015 and now requires explicit congressional approval to
restart. He noted that although the committee's authorizing
statute is heavily focused on BRAC, reflecting its past impact
on Alaska, the chair believes the statute does not need to
include initiative-specific language. He shared that in a recent
offline discussion, Colonel Vakalis advised remaining vigilant
about BRAC, as it could return. He also mentioned that the
statute was updated last year to add language related to the
Space Force during the development of a Military and Veterans
Affairs Commission bill. Although there was a minor tweak to the
statute it was not reviewed in full.
MR. JOHANASAN stated that, after reviewing the committee's
statutory authority and discussing his findings, Co-Chair Gray
concluded it was time to reevaluate the statute governing the
Joint Armed Services Committee (JASC). He explained that while
JASC was originally formed during the BRAC era, today's
military-related issues have broadened significantly and are not
reflected in the current statute. Topics such as cyber warfare,
counter-drug operations, recruitment challenges, facility use,
veterans cemeteries, military housing, childcare, and the
effects of military compacts on families are now central to
military-community interaction in Alaska. Co-Chair Gray stated
his belief that these areas fall within the committee's
potential influence.
8:46:34 AM
MR. JOHANASAN shared that over the interim, the Legislative
Affairs Agency, which serves as staff for JASC under Legislative
Council authority, will lead a process to brainstorm legislation
aimed at updating and modernizing the committee's powers and
duties. The plan is to draft legislation for introduction next
session through the Rules Committee, with the goal of refreshing
and restructuring JASC. He emphasized that today's meeting was
more business-oriented than previous JASC meetings and was
intended to outline the summer work plan and invite member
participation.
MR. JOHANASAN also noted structural inefficiencies in tracking
public and committee members over time. He reported that
discussions are ongoing with the [Executive Director of the
Legislative Affairs Agency] to improve recordkeeping and ensure
continuity as committee leadership changes. He acknowledged the
efforts of past chairs, including Representative Shaw, Senator
Claman, Representative Saddler, and Senator Shower, to recover
historical records.
MR. JOHANASAN commended Representative Stapp for revitalizing
the Medal of Honor recognition project, which seeks to locate
and honor recipients' families using modern tools, including
social media. He expressed optimism that current technology will
allow greater success.
8:49:45 AM
SENATOR DUNBAR stated that he will be unavailable to participate
in the project over the interim but expressed strong support for
the effort. He remarked that the current statute is notably
misaligned with the committee's actual activities and
priorities. He highlighted the National Guard as the area where
the legislature has the most direct connection, noting its
absence from the statute is surprising, especially given the
legislature's involvement through the Department of Military and
Veterans Affairs (DMVA) finance subcommittee. He also emphasized
the long-standing challenge of recruiting and retaining Guard
members in rural Alaska, an issue dating back to the loss of
additional federal funding after the Cold War. He commended the
project and expressed interest in the outcomes.
8:51:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DIBERT thanked the committee for outlining the
plan moving forward and shared feedback from constituents in
downtown Fairbanks. She emphasized that childcare and housing
are major concerns for military families, noting that the
absence of universal preschool in Alaska places additional
strain on parents. She explained that many families are forced
to choose between employment and caregiving, often while also
facing housing insecurity. She expressed hope that the committee
will support or at least discuss the universal preschool bill
currently before the legislature.
8:52:21 AM
MR. JOHANSEN emphasized that the committee's focus will continue
to support the core mission of the military and its role in
national defense. However, he noted that the [co-]chair has
directed an effort to broaden the committee's scope to reflect
the wide-ranging impact of the military on daily life in Alaska.
He acknowledged issues such as childcare as part of that broader
focus. He clarified that this expansion is not meant to shift
attention away from current priorities but to more actively
address interconnected concerns.
8:53:01 AM
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON noted that this year marks the Army's
250th birthday and highlighted related events occurring in his
district. He stated that Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER)
will host several activities throughout June, which is
traditionally a key month for military outreach. He specifically
mentioned a celebration on June 12 hosted by the Association of
the United States Army (AUSA) and the Army, featuring Major
General Hilbert of the 11th Airborne Division. He encouraged
committee members and the public to attend and offered to help
connect interested individuals.
8:54:06 AM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Co-Chair Gray adjourned the Joint Armed Services Committee
meeting at 8:54 a.m.
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