Meet Mead Treadwell

Mead’s exciting start in Alaska first came as a teenager in 1974 when he worked as a volunteer intern in Wally Hickel's office. It was the beginning of a friendship that lasted thirty-six years. Today, Mead recalls the enthusiasm and spark of Governor Hickel, and Mead is excited to pass that same Alaskan spirit on to his children.

Mead returned to Alaska in 1977 and became a resident. After graduating from Yale in 1978, Mead worked on Governor Hickel’s 1978 campaign and then as an investigative reporter for the Anchorage Times. In 1982, after completing his MBA at the Harvard Business School, he joined Governors Hickel and Egan as a founding officer of the Yukon Pacific Corporation. There, Mead worked closely with the Reagan Administration to gain permission for Alaska to sell oil and gas on world markets, and seek markets for Alaska's natural gas in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. Mead Treadwell was Vice President and Treasurer of Yukon Pacific until its sale to CSX Corporation in 1989.

Treadwell’s work with Alaska’s early leaders convinced him that we must always stand up for the promises of statehood. His travels through the state – working on a pipeline route, fishing, hiking, camping or hunting – convinced him there was no other place he would rather live. Alaska’s resources, strategic location, climate, and vast opportunities are enough to keep anyone with a pioneering spirit engaged.

Mead Treadwell has fought for Alaska’s interests as a civic leader, and in government positions at the local, state, and national levels. During the Exxon Valdez Response, Mead Treadwell headed the Cordova Oil Spill Response Office and worked with our coastal communities to get the Prince William Sound Science Center, the Alaska SeaLife Center, and the Regional Citizens Advisory Councils started.

As Deputy Commissioner of Environmental Conservation in the Hickel Administration, 1990-1994, Mead Treadwell worked on many federal–state battles, helped launch Arctic cooperation after the Cold War ended, helped establish the Community Development Quota program and get a long-term commitment for safe drinking water in Alaska’s villages. Mead helped the process that permitted the Fort Knox mine near Fairbanks in two years, and helped oversee longer, more complicated efforts on major mines in the Juneau area. Mead led an effort to privatize some state services, saving the state money and helping to eliminate a permitting bottleneck for landowners. Mead Treadwell was part of the team which put together the “buyback” to make Kachemak Bay State Park happen.

Treadwell served on the Alaska Science and Technology Foundation from 1994-1999, and helped get the Kodiak Launch Complex and the Challenger Learning Center started. At the same, working at the Institute of the North, he helped Alaska stand up and demand protection from North Korean missiles. Treadwell’s efforts helped lead to the construction of missile defense at Ft. Greely near Delta Junction.

Mead Treadwell was appointed to the United States Arctic Research Commission by President George W. Bush in 2001 and designated by the President as the Commission's chair in 2006. During his time on the Commission, Treadwell worked with the State Department, the National Security Council, and other federal agencies to craft a new United States Arctic Policy which is now being implemented.

Treadwell is proud to count himself among Alaska’s many entrepreneurs and enjoys his work in Alaska’s private sector. Currently, Treadwell serves as the Chairman and CEO of

Venture Ad Astra, an Anchorage company which invests in and develops new geospatial and imaging technologies. As one of the founders of Digimarc, Treadwell is proud to report that his company’s digital watermarking system is now used to provide anti-counterfeiting protection on the currencies of thirty nations and helps provide copyright protection on DVDs. It is also part of Adobe’s Photoshop program. Another firm Treadwell chaired, Immersive Media, helped Google pioneer its Streetview service and Mapquest its 360View service. Immersive Media’s camera has been used to map thousands of miles of road in Afghanistan and Iraq to help protect our soldiers.

Mead Treadwell is a committed to his family and the proud father of three.

Timothy, an Eagle Scout, is a competitive freestyle skier at the University of Colorado Boulder. William is in his second year at West High and Natalie is in her second year at Romig Middle School.Treadwell met his late wife, Carol, as a volunteer with charity work which ultimately led to the establishment of a series of scholarships in science education for young Alaskans. The "Sea Train" program, which was established in Carol's memory, has taken over 10,000 Anchorage fifth graders to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward since her death in 2002.

Treadwell’s experience in Alaska has drawn him to run for Lieutenant Governor because of his commitment to seeing a better future for our next generation of Alaskans. He has seen the fruition of the work of past leaders to create the Alaska we know and love today, and hopes to continue their legacy of values in his work as Lieutenant Governor. Mead Treadwell is honored to run with Sean Parnell in this election. Treadwell believes his similar values, leadership, and vision will serve Alaskans well for the next four years, and beyond.