Givey Kochanowski joins the Arctic Energy Office team on detail from the Office of Indian Energy. This article details Givey's Alaska and Arctic experience and discusses his new role in stakeholder relations for AEO.
November 4, 2021
minute read time
What excites you about your new role in AEO?
AEO is a great match for my experience, education, and physical location. I did arctic strategy for DOE in the National Strategy for the Arctic Region before AEO was reconstituted and have extensive experience in Alaska and internationally. I have 24 years in government in and out of uniform. I first came to Alaska in 2001 and liked it so much I came back permanently in 2004. I’m uniquely situated to cover Anchorage and Southern Alaskan Arctic stakeholders’ needs broadly. A lot of what is decided for the Arctic—the logistics, Native Affairs, military strategy, and most stakeholders—are located in Anchorage. I can add value there because I can meet face-to-face with stakeholders, for example, at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson or with executives from leading Alaska Native Corporations. Working in AE will allow DOE to tie into a wide range of my experience and education.
You are well established in Alaska as IE’s Alaska Program Manager. How will your knowledge of Alaska Natives help AEO?
About 42% of our nation’s tribes are in Alaska--as are 100% of the Alaska Native Corporations--so it makes sense to have an Indian Energy representative up here. The biggest thing I’ve been able to do is be a bridge between the Arctic and the D.C. beltway. It’s important to bring Arctic issues to the directors. I started a lot of progress up here like capacity building and STEM programs and I am proud of it. We trained 5,000 students in K-12. We can expand more. Many have gone through project development and technical assistance and have applied their successes through grant programs. I hope to ensure Native equities for Alaska are included in AEO’s work.
You are active in your community, which also benefits DOE. What made you decide to be involved?
I believe people should invest in where they live and try to make things better. I am honored that the Governor of Alaska appointed me to two state boards in line with my expertise and passion. I serve on both the Alaska Veterans Advisory Council and the Alaska Historical Commission. I have also been active with the Office of Naval Research-funded and small business incubator, Launch Alaska, as both a board member and mentor to small business. I’m also a lifetime member of the Air Force Association and my local VFW post.
What are some fun facts about you?
I like to hunt, fish, hike, and camp. I like to attend cultural events like the Copper River Sausage Festival. I’ve been to every state in the U.S. I love to travel and read. In this detail, I'd like to see the key elements of what I bring to this office become permanent and institutionalized.
Carolyn Hinkley
Carolyn Hinkley is a communication specialist in the Office of Electricity (OE). In this role, she helps to manage executive communications and internal and external communications, including OE's website.
She previously served as the Acting Communications Director for the Arctic Energy Office, where she managed all aspects of external and internal communications for DOE's only placed-based office in Alaska. Her role included representing Alaska Native concerns on DOE's Tribal Energy Steering Committee. Carolyn joined the Arctic Energy Office from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)'s communications team, where she managed the organization's multiple websites and oversaw stakeholder outreach tools and digital best practices. In this role, she also edited a national renewable energy newsletter and provided executive communication support to the organization’s senior leaders.
Before joining EERE, Carolyn provided public affairs support to Western Area Power Administration, specifically in the areas of hydropower generation and transmission and marketing.
She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and Spanish from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a master's degree in information and communication technology from the University of Denver.