North Alaska News

Lt. Governor Nancy Dahlstrom presented Sally Russell Cox with the annual Shirley Demientieff award on Friday at the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Convention. Cox's work for Alaska was praised as the epitome of what the award represents.

"Shirley Demientieff was not only a trailblazer, but a beacon of strength, resilience, and compassion. It was my honor to present the Shirley Demientieff Award to Sally Russell Cox. The work that Sally has done for Alaska is the epitome of what this award stands for," said Nancy Dahlstrom from the Office of Governor of Alaska.

Cox earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and planning and a master’s degree in urban and regional planning. Cox leads the State for the Community Assistance Support Function for FEMA’s Interagency Recovery Coordination effort for Typhoon Merbok, and partnered with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium on a report titled, “The Unmet Needs of Environmentally Threatened Alaska Native Villages: Assessment and Recommendations.”

In addition, Cox serves as the state lead for the Alaska Silver Jackets Team, which focuses on natural hazard risk reduction in Alaska. The Silver Jackets teams exist in all states and several territories, bringing together multiple state, federal, and sometimes local agencies and Tribes to learn from one another and work together to reduce risk from floods and sometimes other natural hazards. The teams conduct diverse collaborative efforts, with focal areas varying based on state priorities. By applying their shared knowledge, the teams enhance preparedness, mitigation, and response and recovery efforts when such events occur. Resources for team activities are provided through the individual programs of each participating agency, within the constraints of available budgets and authorities.