Tom received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mineral Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1968, and since has been active in the mining and recovery of gold, silver, molybdenum, copper, tungsten and tin ores.  Prior to moving to Alaska, he was General Manager of Amax Gold’s Sleeper Mine in Nevada.  From 1992 to 1996 Tom was Vice President of Operations for Fairbanks Gold Mining, Inc. and directly involved with design, permitting, and start-up of the Fort Knox Mine.  From 1996 to 2001 he was Operations Manager and General Manager of Fort Knox and True North Mines, and in 2001 was Vice President of Business Development.  He became Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources in 2003.  He was Vice President of Government and Public Affairs for Golden Valley Electric Association in 2006, and resumed his position as Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources in 2007.

Tom has served as a member of the Alaska Minerals Commission; President of the Council of Alaska Producers; member of the Alaska Miners Association’s Board of Directors; and Executive Board member, Board of Directors member, and Resources Committee Co-Chairman for the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce.

Tom and Sharon, his wife of 40 years, have two daughters, a son-in-law, and three Alaska-born grandchildren who all reside in Fairbanks.  Tom and Sharon both enjoy Alaska’s outdoors year-round, and feel very blessed to live in the state.