May 18, 2012, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell today announced recent appointments to the Natural Resources Conservation and Development Board, Aviation Advisory Board, Alaska Aerospace Corporation Board of Directors, and State Officers Compensation Commission.

Natural Resources Conservation and Development Board

Governor Parnell reappointed George Woodbury to the Natural Resources Conservation and Development Board. The five-member board, representing land users from around the state, makes recommendations to the commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources on the orderly development of farm, forest and grazing land in the state. It also represents the state in local, federal, and state soil and water conservation programs, makes recommendations on the use or disposal of land and resources, and serves as the board of directors for the Alaska Soil and Water Conservation Districts for areas of the state not organized into local conservation districts.

Woodbury, of Wrangell, has been a forest products harvesting, manufacturing and marketing consultant in Alaska and Hawaii since 1999. He was vice president of timber operations for the Alaska Pulp Corporation in Sitka from 1986-97, managed the Ketchikan Pulp Corporation’s timber division from 1974-86, and was a contract logging engineer and manager for the corporation from 1969-74. Woodbury earned a bachelor’s degree in forest management from Purdue University and then served five years as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. He has served on the board as chair since 2005, and is reappointed to a seat reserved for a Southeast Alaska agricultural producer.

Alaska Aerospace Corporation Board of Directors

Governor Parnell appointed Lindsay Knight to the Alaska Aerospace Corporation Board of Directors. The corporation allows Alaska to play a lead role in the exploration and development of space, in enhancing human and economic development, and in providing direction for space-related education and research.

Knight, of Kodiak, is the owner of Kodiak Athletic Club. He is also the president of the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce and the Kodiak Morning Rotary Club. Knight owned Gold’s Gym in Anchorage for 20 years and served on the Municipality of Anchorage Solid Waste Advisory Council. He is appointed as a representative of the private business sector and a resident of the borough where the corporation’s launch activities occur.

State Officers Compensation Commission

Governor Parnell reappointed Rick Halford and Tom McGrath to the State Officers Compensation Commission. The five-member commission was created by the Alaska State Legislature to review the salaries, benefits, and allowances of members of the Legislature, the governor, lieutenant governor, and each principal executive department head.

Halford, of Chugiak, is a commercial pilot and registered guide. He is also a former Alaska state legislator, representing Chugiak/Eagle River from 1979-2003. Halford was elected to two terms in the House and five terms in the Senate, and served twice as Senate president. He served in the Alaska Air National Guard from 1968-75, and has belonged to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Chugiak/Eagle River Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce, among others. Halford received a bachelor’s degree from Alaska Methodist University in history and political science.

McGrath, of Anchorage, has owned Frigid North Company, an electronic supply business, since 1979. He previously worked for General Electric on remote radar projects in Alaska from 1977-89, and served in the U.S. Army as a radio specialist. His community service includes membership on the Spenard Community Council since 1983, a term as chairman of the Federation of Community Councils from 1995-97, and former service as co-chair of the Anchorage Healthy Future project. He is a director of Edge Marketing and Procurement, an international marketing organization for electronics stores. McGrath earned an associate’s degree in social sciences from the Anchorage Community College.

Source: Office of Governor Parnell