Tom Irwin has joined Golden Valley Electric Association as vice president of governmental and public affairs, a newly created position, GVEA said in a statement Jan. 16.

Irwin, 59, is a mining industry veteran with more than 30 years of management experience. He stepped down from his job as commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources in October after disagreeing with Gov. Frank H. Murkowski about the direction of the state's natural gas pipeline negotiations with the North Slope producers.

At GVEA, Irwin will serve as the cooperative's liaison to government, at both local and state levels. He also will oversee GVEA's public relations staff, the co-op said.

Position already in structure

"This position mirrors contemporary cooperative organizational models. We've had this position in our structure for the past year and the timing of Tom being available made us decide to fill the position now," said GVEA President & CEO Steven Haagenson, who also praised Irwin's track record of hard work and ethical standards.

Since Murkowski dismissed him in October, Irwin has continued to speak out against the state's strategy in the ongoing gas line talks. He had served as DNR commissioner since January 2003.

Irwin holds a bachelor's degree in mineral engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.

He has 33 years experience in the mining industry, evaluating, designing, permitting and operating mining and milling properties.

Past positions include a stint as general manager of Amax Gold's Sleeper mine in Nevada before moving to Alaska in 1992.

From 1992-96, Irwin was vice president of operations for Fairbanks Gold Mining Inc., and was directly involved with design, permitting, and start-up of the Fort Knox mine.

Between 1996 and 2001, he served as operations manager and general manager of Fort Knox and True North mines.

From 2001-2003, he was vice president of business development for Fairbanks Gold.

GVEA, with its growing customer base of mining operations, is a good fit with Irwin, Haagenson added.