"Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy [R] named former oil and gas lobbyist John Boyle to serve as commissioner of the agency in charge of oil and gas development in the state.

Boyle, whose appointment as head of the Department of Natural Resources was announced Friday, was director of government affairs for BP (formerly British Petroleum) from 2016 through 2019, when he joined Oil Search, a smaller oil and gas firm, as its government affairs director.

Oil Search subsequently was acquired by Santos, a firm now involved in litigation against ConocoPhillips about road access on the North Slope. DNR is involved in that lawsuit.

From 2017 through 2019, Boyle registered as a lobbyist for BP Exploration Alaska Inc."

James Brooks reports for States Newsroom December 16, 2022. [2]