SENATE COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE February 13, 1995 1:35 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator John Torgerson, Chairman Senator Randy Phillips, Vice Chairman Senator Tim Kelly Senator Fred Zharoff MEMBERS ABSENT Senator Lyman Hoffman COMMITTEE CALENDAR CONFIRMATION HEARING: Mike Irwin, Commissioner Designee, Department of Community & Regional Affairs Jake Lestenkof, Adjutant General Designee, Department of Military & Veterans Affairs ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 95-2, SIDE A Number 001 CHAIRMAN TORGERSON called the Senate Community & Regional Affairs Committee meeting to order at 1:35 p.m. He then invited Mike Irwin to address the committee. MIKE IRWIN, Commissioner Designee, Department of Community & Regional Affairs, told the committee he was born in Bettles, Alaska, attended grades one through twelve in Nenana, completed four semesters at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Welfare. Following graduation from Pacific Lutheran, Mr. Irwin married, started raising a family and returned to graduate school at the University of Alaska, Juneau where he earned his Master Of Public Administration degree. Mr. Irwin's employment history includes working for a number of Native nonprofits and profit corporations, as well as the State of Alaska as a special assistant for rural policy during the Cowper Administration. Most recently, he worked as a federal employee for the Alaska Natives Commission. In between jobs, he has worked as a private consultant. Number 048 CHAIRMAN TORGERSON asked if there were any questions from committee members. There being none, he thanked Mr. Irwin and then invited Major General Lestenkof to address the committee. MAJOR GENERAL JAKE LESTENKOF, Adjutant General Designee, Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, informed the committee he was born on Saint George Island in the Pribolof Islands and attended high school at Mt. Edgecumbe in Sitka. After graduating from high school, Major General Lestenkof joined the Marine Corps, serving in Korea during the war. Upon release from active duty from the Marine Corps, he returned to Sitka where he joined the Alaska Army National Guard, serving primarily in the operations and training field. When Major General Lestenkof left active duty with the National Guard in 1974, he became the executive vice president for the Alaska Federation of Natives, primarily responsible for implementing the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. In 1977 he went to work for the Cook Inlet Native Association as its executive director and in 1981 became the area director for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Alaska, retiring from federal service in 1988. Governor Cowper appointed Major General Lestenkof as Deputy Director of the Department of Community & Regional Affairs in 1988. He served in that position until June 1990. In 1987, Major General Lestenkof became Assistant Adjutant General for the Alaska Army National Guard, serving in that capacity until 1990. Number 150 There being no questions from committee members, CHAIRMAN TORGERSON thanked Major General Lestenkof for appearing before the committee. Number 155 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS moved that a letter be sent to Senate President Drue Pearce stating that the two individuals had appeared before the committee and there were no stated objections to their confirmation, but that this does not reflect the individual's right to vote one way or the other while in a confirmation session. There being no objection, CHAIRMAN TORGERSON stated the motion carried. There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 1:42 p.m.