Miles Baker will join the University of Alaska executive management team as the Associate Vice President of Government Relations starting Nov. 1, 2016. This position works on behalf of the university with the legislature, the governor, and state and federal agencies. Baker will advise the president, Board of Regents, and university executives on political issues and strategies essential to successfully move the university’s legislative priorities. He will provide regular updates to the university community regarding legislative activities, the university budget approval process, and legislation affecting the university and its constituents.

“Miles comes to the university with a wide range of skills, from communications, public relations, finance and marketing, to extensive government relations, legislative strategy and advocacy experience” said Michelle Rizk, vice president of university relations. “He will be an asset for the university in Juneau, and a strong advocate for higher education.”

Baker has extensive experience in these areas, and has deep ties to Alaska with contacts throughout the state. He previously worked for the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) as vice president of external affairs and government relations. His responsibility included directing all corporate communications including government relations, media and public relations. He led policy and budget engagements with the legislature, maintained relations with municipal, state, federal and tribal entities and was engaged with regulatory and executive branch agencies on behalf of the AGDC.

His legislative experience began in 2003 as chief of staff for Senator Bert Stedman, where he gained progressive responsibility as senior legislative aide and principal policy advisor. He was responsible for legislative drafting, political strategy and communications with legislators, staff, industry coalitions, business leaders and political subdivisions around the state. From 2007-2011 he was staff for the co-chairman of the Alaska Senate Finance Committee responsible for providing strategic counsel to senate leadership on revenue and finance issues. In this role, he developed state capital and operating budgets, and analyzed and prioritized program funding for multiple state agencies, including the University of Alaska. 


In 2011, Baker moved into the federal arena to work for Sen. Lisa Murkowski first as an economic and legislative policy advisor in Washington, D.C. and then as her state director in Anchorage. As part of Sen. Murkowski’s leadership team, Baker supervised the statewide operations and the activities in six regional offices. He represented the Senator in an official capacity, travelling throughout the state, engaging Alaskans, and speaking on her behalf. It was his job to identify political and policy issues of concern and implement strategies for resolution. 


Prior to beginning his political profession, Baker attended the United States Naval Academy and served as Captain in the United States Marine Corps, chief-of-staff for 180-person logistics support operation. He served with two separate rapid-response units in Okinawa, Japan and provided logistics support for large multi-national training exercises throughout Asia Pacific. Following his military service, he worked in media and marketing in the private business sector for over a decade before returning to Alaska. He earned his Masters of Business Administration from the University of California Los Angeles Anderson School of Management.

Baker lives in Anchorage, Alaska, is passionate about music, food and outdoor Alaska. This position will require extensive time in Juneau as well as maintaining contacts with the federal delegation in Washington D.C.