Mead Treadwell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mead Treadwell
11th Lieutenant Governor of Alaska
In office December 6, 2010 – December 1, 2014
Governor	Sean Parnell
Preceded by	Craig Campbell
Succeeded by	Byron Mallott
Chair of the United States Arctic Research Commission
In office 2006–2011
President	George W. Bush Barack Obama
Preceded by	George B. Newton
Succeeded by	Fran Ulmer
Personal details
Born	Louis Mead Treadwell II (1956-03-21) March 21, 1956 (age 69) New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Education	Yale University (BA) Harvard University (MBA)

Louis Mead Treadwell II, born on March 21, 1956, is an American businessman and politician. He served as the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Alaska from 2010 to 2014. Before that, Treadwell was the chairman of the United States Arctic Research Commission from 2006 to 2010. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Early Life and Education

Mead Treadwell was born in New Haven, Connecticut. He grew up in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, where his father, Timothy Treadwell, was a local leader. Mead went to public schools in Newtown, Connecticut, including Sandy Hook Elementary.

He later attended the Hotchkiss School and then served as a Senate Page in Washington, D.C.. In 1978, Treadwell earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Yale University. He continued his education at Harvard University, getting his Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 1982.

Career Highlights

In 1978, Treadwell moved to Alaska. He worked for former U.S. Secretary of Interior Wally Hickel's campaign for governor. After the election, Treadwell became a political reporter for the Anchorage Times newspaper.

Later, he joined Hickel's business, Yukon Pacific Corporation. This company explored building a gas pipeline across Alaska. Yukon Pacific was bought by CSX in 1989.

Helping After the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

After the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, Treadwell went to Cordova, Alaska. He became the city's director for the spill cleanup. The oil spill greatly harmed the fishing industry and environment in the area. Treadwell helped with the cleanup efforts and was hopeful about the environment recovering. However, he noted that the full effects of the spill would take many years to understand.

Treadwell also helped create the Siberia Alaska Gateway Project. This project worked to open the border between the U.S. and Russia. He led trips to Wrangel Island and helped with nuclear safety in Russia. He also hosted an exercise for Arctic nations to practice responding to radiation releases.

Public Service in Alaska

In 1990, Wally Hickel became Governor of Alaska. He appointed Treadwell as Deputy Commissioner of Alaska's Department of Environmental Conservation. Treadwell worked in this role from 1991 to 1994. He helped write new laws to prevent oil spills and created a division focused on environmental fairness. He also represented Alaska in international groups that focused on protecting the Arctic environment.

After his time as Deputy Commissioner, Treadwell served on the Alaska Science and Technology Foundation board. He is also a member of the Alaska Siberia Research Center board.

Business Ventures

Treadwell has been involved in many successful businesses. He is on the board of Venture Ad Astra, a company that develops technologies for national security and navigation. He also helped start Digimarc, a company known for digital watermarking technology. Treadwell was also chairman of Immersive Media Corporation (IMC), which developed the camera used for Google's Street View.

Leading Arctic Research

In 2001, Treadwell was appointed to the United States Arctic Research Commission. President George W. Bush made him the chairman in 2006. He often spoke to the United States Congress about Arctic issues. For example, he warned that a ban on commercial fishing in the Beaufort Sea would only work if Canada and Russia also agreed to it.

During this time, he also worked at the Institute of the North, which focused on Alaska's strategy, defense, and transportation. He co-authored a study called Why the Arctic Matters.

Lieutenant Governor of Alaska

Treadwell in Barrow in July 2012, visiting facilities during the U.S. Coast Guard's Arctic Shield exercise.

In May 2010, Treadwell announced he would run for lieutenant governor of Alaska. He wanted to address concerns about the federal government, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, and the need to grow Alaska's economy through international trade.

He won the Republican primary election in August 2010. His campaign then joined with incumbent Republican Governor Sean Parnell. In the general election in November 2010, Parnell and Treadwell won against their opponents. Treadwell became the Lieutenant Governor of Alaska on December 6, 2010.

Running for U.S. Senate

On December 1, 2012, Treadwell announced he was considering running for the United States Senate. He wanted to challenge the sitting Senator, Mark Begich. He officially launched his campaign in September 2013. Other candidates for the Republican nomination included Joe Miller and Dan Sullivan.

In the primary election on August 19, 2014, Dan Sullivan won the nomination.

2018 Alaska Governor Race

Treadwell on the night of the primary

On June 1, 2018, Mead Treadwell announced he would run for Governor of Alaska. He sought the Republican nomination but lost to state senator Mike Dunleavy in the primary election.

Personal Life

Mead Treadwell and his wife, Carol, had three children. Carol Treadwell passed away in 2002. Mead Treadwell is active in the Catholic Church.

Works

• Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century (co-author)
• Why the Arctic Matters (lead author)