WASHINGTON, D.C.– Chairman Frank H. Murkowski today applauded the announcement that Committee Staff Director Andrew D. Lundquist has been tapped by President Bush to be Director of the National Energy Policy Development Group. He will work directly with Vice President Dick Cheney, who will chair the energy task force. Deputy Staff Director Brian Malnak will move into the staff director’s position for the Committee. Lundquist has been staff director for the Committee since 1998. Prior to that, he was chief of staff to Murkowski in his senatorial office. He was also a counsel on the Energy Committee in 1995. The native of Alaska spent several years on the staff of Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska. He graduated from Catholic University Columbus School of Law in 1993. Malnak has been deputy staff director for the Committee since June of 2000, has served on the Committee professional staff since 1996 and primarily handled energy policy legislation, including oil, gas and public lands issues. Prior to his Committee service, he was legislative director in Murkowski’s personal office and before that worked as deputy chief of staff to Alaskan Governor Walter J. Hickel. His experience includes working as associate director of communications in the office of the Secretary of the Interior. “I have every faith that Andrew will be an asset to the President in this new task force. He will offer a wealth of knowledge and experience on energy issues that will make his advice and counsel invaluable,” said Murkowski. “The second half of this equation is that I have every faith and reliance on Brian Malnak as the new staff director for the Committee. We are lucky to have a qualified individual standing in the wings and the Committee should proceed to its work without a hitch,” said the Chairman. Malnak is a graduate of Gettysburg College and attended the University of London in 1985 conducting a six-month study in social policy and politics. The National Energy Policy Development Group is made up of the Vice President, Secretaries of Energy, Treasury, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, and Transportation among others. The Group will work to develop a national energy policy, and promote dependable, affordable and environmentally sound production and distribution of energy for the future. ###