New staff at the Institute of the North

The Institute of the North welcomes new staff members Chris Nelson (left) as security and defense program consultant; and Nils Andreassen (right) as research associate.

Nelson, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, served as the State of Alaska’s missile defense coordinator from 2000 to 2003, then as missile defense consultant to the Aleut Corporation to support the homeporting of the Sea Based X Band Radar at Adak.  Nelson has held several senior staff positions with the Alaska State Legislature and currently serves as consultant to Alaska Legislature Joint Armed Services Committee in addition to his responsibilities with the Institute of the North. Nelson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Redlands and Master of Administration Degree in Public Administration from the University of California, Riverside. 

While serving as a Fellow of the institute Andreassen was responsible for the successful Alaska Dialogue.  In joining its full-time staff he will be charged with continuing and expanding the program.  Andreassen most recently served as a Rural Planning Coordinator at RurAL CAP.  He received his bachelor’s degree in peace and development from the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom.

Institute of the North Staff