Tom Stokes appointed acting director of Division of Oil & Gas

Kay Cashman

Petroleum News

Tom Stokes was appointed acting director of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Oil and Gas on Oct. 28, DNR Commissioner Corri Feige told Petroleum News Oct. 30.

Stokes had been the department’s state pipeline coordinator, and before that worked 28 years for Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. in support, compliance and operational assignments including director of the Valdez Marine Terminal and director of compliance.

In his role as acting division director, Stokes will supervise exploration licensing, lease sales, unit management, permitting, royalty accounting, royalty audit, resource evaluation, commercial activities and the State Pipeline Coordinator’s section.

Stokes earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern California and the University of South Dakota, respectively. He also served in the U.S. Army as an artillery officer.

The previous acting director was Jim Beckham, who had taken over in March for former division Director Chantal Walsh.

- Kay Cashman