Corps of Engineers – Alaska District Welcomes New Deputy Chief of Regulatory Division

Sara Longan assumed duties as the Deputy Chief of the Regulatory Division for the US Army Corps of Engineers–Alaska District in January.
In her new position, Longan administers and enforces the Corps’ regulatory program in Alaska. Longan assists with the development, response, and implementation of initiatives and requirements directed toward the effective, efficient, and consistent application of the regulations.

Originally from California, Longan earned a doctorate in epidemiology and public health as well as a master’s degree in environmental toxicology and a bachelor’s degree in pre-veterinary medicine at Oklahoma State University. She worked in the academic and private sectors managing water-quality testing laboratories. In 2004, she joined the State of Alaska, managing the biological analysis section for the Department of Environmental Conservation. Five years later, Longan switched to the Department of Natural Resources as the deputy commissioner in charge of the Division of Oil and Gas, Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, Office of Project Management and Permitting, and Trust Land Office.

In 2013, Longan earned the Governor’s Denali Award for Peak Performance in recognition of her excellence in project management and regulatory coordination. In 2016, she was named one of the Alaska Journal of Commerce’s Top 40 Under 40.