Cook Inlet Region, Incorporated Splits President and CEO in Two
Cook Inlet Region, Incorporated
Cook Inlet Region, Incorporated (CIRI) welcomed new leadership upon the retirement of Sophie Minich, who has been President and CEO for the last ten years. The board promoted one of CIRI’s officers and tapped an aerospace executive to fill the positions.
“Our board decided to split CIRI leadership into two positions, CEO and president,” says Board Chair Doug Fifer. “This change will help CIRI foster growth and have a positive impact on the services we provide to our shareholders, descendants, and the 60,000 Alaska Natives and American Indians that reside in our region.”
Cook Inlet Region, Incorporated
Sarah Lukin, previously Chief Strategy Officer, is CIRI’s new President. An Alaska Native corporation shareholder and enrolled tribal member, Lukin has more than twenty years of experience working with indigenous businesses across the United States and Canada. She has experience in 8(a) government contracting, private equity, business development, and government relations.
Lukin earned a bachelor’s degree in history and Alaska Native studies from UAA and a master’s degree in rural development and indigenous organizations management from UAF. She also has a certificate from the Alaska Native Executive Leadership Program at Alaska Pacific University. Lukin was previously a board member and executive at Afognak Native Corporation and was chief administration officer at NANA Regional Corporation before co-founding her own fishing lure company, All Rigged, with her father.
Current Issue
May 2025
Cook Inlet Region, Incorporated
CIRI’s executive search for a new CEO reached to the edge of space and found Swami Iyer, most recently the president of aerospace systems at Virgin Galactic, operator of an air-launched suborbital spaceship for tourists. Iyer has twenty-five years of experience in the aerospace, defense, and computing industries. He also spent time in the public sector as South Asia and Oceania Chief for the Deputy Under Secretary, International Affairs of the US Air Force.
Iyer earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan and went to US Air Force Test Pilot School to earn a master’s degree in flight test engineering. He was the school’s director of operations after flying B-52 bombers in the Air Force.
“It’s an honor to join CIRI as its new CEO,” says Iyer, who worked in the Los Angeles area for Virgin Galactic. “I am committed to building upon the strong foundation laid by Ms. Minich, the board of directors, and the entire CIRI team. Together, we will continue to deliver exceptional results and drive innovation to meet the needs of our stakeholders.”
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