FirstHand Governor Mike Dunleavy

Declared disasters occur in Alaska every 90 days. Hear how Alaska and its weather events have changed from Bryan Fisher, director of Alaska’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. On FirstHand, the podcast, Fisher tells how cyberattacks and food security are entering the realm of emergency management in Alaska.

In a newly created position, a retired Alaska State Trooper returns as VPSO Program director to reimagine the Village Public Safety Officer program.  On FirstHand, the podcast, Joel Hard says VPSOs are so critical to public safety in villages that he could not have done his Trooper job without them.

Assigning more Troopers to communities in Alaska is a goal of James Cockrell, the Commissioner of Public Safety. Seventeen new positions for Troopers and 10 for Village Public Safety Officers are in Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy’s budget. Cockrell says the Governor’s budget proposes the single largest funding increase to Public Safety over Cockrell’s 30 years with the Department. Learn more about the Department’s optimism and momentum from Alaska’s top law enforcement official on FirstHand, the podcast.

With the budget the size of 12 other departments, and the staff the size of six, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services is described as a “beast” by Adam Crum, its Commissioner. On FirstHand, the podcast, Commissioner Crum tells Host Patty Sullivan how splitting the department into two will provide a better level of service, gain efficiencies, and provide room for innovation. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy will introduce an executive order in the upcoming legislative session to reorganize the hefty department.

DOA Commissioner Paula Vrana appeared on FirstHand, a podcast produced by Host Patty Sullivan in the Office of Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy.
The Department of Administration’s responsibilities are so varied it may be considered the junk drawer of State government – you don’t really know what is in there, but it always seems to have what you need. Tune in as Commissioner Vrana shares how DOA provides the State the unseen strength to its structure.

On Episode 3 of FirstHand, the podcast, Jason Brune, the Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, talks with Host Patty Sullivan about the tightrope walk of protecting the health of residents and the environment, while also supporting responsible development of Alaska’s natural resources. Click here to listen.