WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced Monday he plans to nominate Alaskan Michael Sfraga to serve as the first U.S. Arctic ambassador-at-large.
As the new Arctic ambassador, Sfraga will work with the seven other Arctic nations and Indigenous groups and promote U.S. policy in the region. The appointment comes days after a Chinese surveillance balloon flew over Alaska and the U.S. shot down another unidentified object near Deadhorse, bringing national attention to the state.
Sfraga is an expert on Arctic geography and policy with an extensive background studying the region. He currently is the chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission — a role that required Biden’s appointment in 2021. He was also the founding director of the Washington, D.C.-based Wilson Center’s Polar Institute, where he currently serves as chair and distinguished fellow.
