Team

Douglas Causey, PhD

Douglas Causey is Principal Investigator of the Department of Homeland Security Arctic Domain Awareness Center of Excellence and Professor of Biological Sciences at UAA. He also serves as Senior Advisor on Arctic Policy to the Chancellor at the University of Alaska Anchorage. He arrived to UAA in June 2005 from Harvard University where he was Senior Fellow of the Kennedy School of Government and Senior Biologist at the Museum of Comparative Zoology. From 1995 - 2000, Doug represented the National Science Foundation at organizational meetings leading to the formation of the Arctic Council and was NSF’s Arctic Representative during the Gore-Chernomyrdin negotiations on US-Russian Science Policy. An ecologist and evolutionary biologist by training, he has authored over one hundred ninety publications on topics as diverse as the biology of Arctic marine birds, high Arctic coastal systems, and bat-borne diseases. His research focuses on the environmental correlates of Arctic climate change, and he and his students are actively conducting research in the Aleutian Islands, the northern Bering Sea, and Northwestern Greenland. His Greenlandic research efforts are funded by the National Science Foundation and are components of the Piniariarneq and Pikialasorsuaq initiatives. He has published extensively on policy issues related to the Arctic environment, Arctic environmental security, and bioterrorism and public health. He and Maj Gen (ret.) Randy Kee jointly offer the policy course “Arctic Environmental Security” through the University of Alaska and the UArctic, and which is attended by students throughout the Arctic region.

Nettie La Belle-Hamer, Ph.D.

Dr. Nettie La Belle-Hamer is UAF’s Interim Vice Chancellor for Research and the Director of the Alaska Satellite Facility (ASF). A lifelong Alaskan, Dr. La Belle-Hamer received her Bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of California at Berkeley in 1985, her Master’s and Ph.D. in space physics at the UAF in 1988 and 1994, respectively. Following graduation, Dr. La Belle-Hamer first became involved with ASF working on the NASA development of a distributed Earth science data system. After managing the first two Antarctic Mapping Missions and the RADARSAT Geophysical Processor System project at ASF, she became the ASF Science Center Manager in 1999. As the ASF Science Center manager, she was responsible for product quality issues, user community interaction, user software tool development, advanced algorithm development, the RADARSAT Geophysical Processor System project, and science outreach activities. She implemented policies and procedures for the Science Center as well as forecasted research trends and directions for ASF user community. Under her direction since 2002, ASF has grown into a strong program with a bright future in remote-sensing data access. Dr. La Belle-Hamer has successfully developed new business opportunities and continue to keep ASF at the forefront of the satellite data industry by focusing on high-quality, on-time data delivery, exemplary customer service, and visionary new product development efforts. Developing and maintaining ASF’s relationships with the U.S. and foreign government research agencies as well as a wide array of domestic and international partners requires her to use an unusual combination of scientific, management, and leadership skills. As the UAF Interim Vice Chancellor, Dr. La Belle-Hamer works to build capacity and depth in the research and development interests of UAF.

Jeff Libby serves as the Executive Director for the Arctic Domain Awareness Center. He also serves as the Director for the Center of Strategic Partnerships and Research (CSPR) and the Director for the Applied Environmental Research Center (AERC) which operates on a Cooperative Agreement with the United States Army Corps of Engineers and Department of Defense. He previously served as an Associate Dean for the University of Alaska Anchorage, Community and Technical College. Jeff holds an MBA and an M.S. in Project Management as well as an International Master of Business Administration. Jeff also has a Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences with a concentration in Environmental studies and a diploma in Expertise in Coaching and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). Mr. Libby is passionate about the Arctic, environmental impacts and climate change. He has been instrumental with student engagement opportunities and is known for developing the first federally recognized and approved research technician apprenticeship program authorized by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Dr. Dotson is the Vice Chancellor for Research and a Professor in Civil Engineering at the University of Alaska Anchorage and an affiliate research faculty at the UA-Fairbanks Water Environment Research Center. He has served as a PI or co-PI on research funded by EPA, IRD, USDA and industry related to water/wastewater treatment, monitoring and industrial processing. His research focuses on advancing water/wastewater treatment and practices in small communities with a focus on the developing and cold regions. He serves on the board of directors for his local water utility and has 26 peer-reviewed journal article publications, 2 book chapters, and nearly 100 conference presentations.

Jason “Olaf” Roe, Petty Officer, USCG (Ret)

Jason “Olaf” Roe, USCG (Ret), is the Associate Director and Senior Research Professional for the Arctic Domain Awareness Center (ADAC) at the University of Alaska, a DHS Center of Excellence. As Senior Research Professional, Mr. Roe’s mission is to provide USCG operator focused coordination, guidance, and support to ADAC research and guide project development to maximize CG operational relevance. Mr. Roe’s skill and experience with GIS systems, environmental models, and mission planning tools provides ADAC with valuable insight into CG operations. During his 12 years of service in Alaska, working with a wide range of Arctic stakeholders, Mr. Roe developed a respect and admiration for Arctic and rural Alaska, and is committed to increasing the safety and security of the Arctic Region through Community engagement and Operationally relevant research in support of the public good.

Heather L. Paulsen

Heather Paulsen is the Finance Director of the Arctic Domain Awareness Center of Excellence. She joined the Center as the Authorized Official Representative of the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) in August 2014, following a 10 plus year career in Higher Education in Finance. In November 2015, Ms. Paulsen joined the team in a more direct role overseeing the fiscal operations and audit monitoring for the Center. In addition to Ms. Paulsen’s duties in the Arctic Domain Awareness Center, she is also the Director of Business Development and Grants and Contracts for the UAA Business Enterprise Institute and the Director of Finance for the UAA, Business Innovation Zone (a 501c3 affiliate of the University). Her responsibilities include: operational and financial management of the first 501c3 affiliate education and economic non-profit approved by the University of Alaska System Board of Regents from startup, the DHS CoE ADAC financial management, and the financial and operational management of the Business Enterprise Institute. She has a proven track record and experience of leading financial strategies to facilitate ambitious growth plans from the financial day to day operational aspects from oversight and delivery of annual budgets, to expenditure tracking, operating budgets, and long range financial planning, investing, and forecasting all while ensuring appropriate federal, state, and local compliance and arm’s length controls between the organizations to safeguard stakeholders. Ms. Paulsen holds a Master’s in Business Administration in Technology Management and a Bachelor’s of Science in Applied Mathematics.

LuAnn Piccard, PMP

LuAnn Piccard, PMP is the Director of Project Management of the Arctic Domain Awareness Center of Excellence. She joined the University of Alaska Anchorage in September 2006 after an executive career in high-technology. As ADAC’s Director of Project Management, at the direction of the ADAC Executive Director, she leads processes to ensure successful planning, execution, tracking, and reporting of key Center projects and initiatives. LuAnn is an Associate Professor and Department Chair for the Engineering, Science and Project Management master’s programs and Program Chair for Project Management in the College of Engineering at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Her academic focus includes project management and the development of future leaders in project, engineering and science management. She teaches academic courses in all aspects of project management as well as several modules in UAA’s project management professional training curriculum. She was the Principal Investigator for the State of Alaska Election Security Project. Her research interests include organizational development, collaboration with stakeholders, and risk assessment for polar and pacific rim projects as well as the application of project management methodologies in the non-profit sector. Prior to joining UAA in 2006, LuAnn spent 22 years in high-technology with Hewlett Packard, Agilent Technologies and Advanced Energy Industries. Her most recent assignments included Vice President and General Manager responsible for Agilent Technologies’ Communications Solutions Business Unit and Senior Vice President and General Manager /Co-Chief Operating Officer for Advanced Energy Industries. During her career, she has held positions with increasing responsibility starting with R&D, strategic marketing, alliance management. Additionally, she has held several other executive and general management positions. She currently serves on the Boards of Directors for Project Management Institute (PMI) Global Accreditation Center (GAC), Habitat for Humanity Anchorage, and Alaska Association of Figure Skaters. She holds a BS and MS in Engineering from Stanford University.

Elizabeth “Ellee” Matthews

Ellee Matthews is the Education and Administrative Manager at the Arctic Domain Awareness Center (ADAC). At ADAC, Ellee’s primarily role is to manage the Center’s Education Program, which focuses on workforce development for undergraduate and graduate students seeking science and technology career fields, particularly in the realm of Arctic research. Born and raised in Alaska, Ellee has focused both her professional and academic careers on the Arctic region, with particular emphasis on resilience in Alaska’s communities, public health challenges, human-environmental interactions, and disaster response. She received her B.S. in Zoology from Colorado State University, and her MSc. in Environment and Development from the University of Edinburgh.

Connor “Conan” Keesecker

Connor Keesecker serves as the Communications and Research Associate for the Arctic Domain Awareness Center. In this role, Connor supports the development of ADAC reports and knowledge products as well as providing support for the Center's communications operations. Born and raised in Eagle River, Alaska, Connor discovered an interest in the Arctic while studying at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where he earned a B.A. in International Studies with Minors in Political Science and History. Before ADAC, he worked on local community development issues in Anchorage, focusing on identifying and implementing best practices in northern placemaking at the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation and later the Anchorage Park Foundation.

Kelsey “Doc Freeze” Frazier

Kelsey “Doc Freeze” Frazier is an avid Alaskan outdoorswoman but a consistently slow runner. She would argue, though, that being the slowest runner of the group means you get more time to enjoy being outside! It was her indefatigable love of all things outdoors that led Kelsey to pursue a career promoting both human and environmental safety. Kelsey began her tenure with ADAC as a fellow where she supported projects investigating oil spill remediation in the Arctic, the complexities of sea ice substructures, and where she laid the groundwork for what is now the Arctic Ice Condition Index (ARCTICE). After graduating in December of 2019 with her B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Kelsey continued in a new role at ADAC as a Research Associate. Currently she supports the advancement of the ARCTICE project, participates in an international sea ice modeling colloquium, and is working to develop new projects to support a safer Arctic region.

Jeffrey “Hollywood” Kee

Jeffrey Kee is a Communications Specialist for UAA’s Business Enterprise Institute, who contributes to serve the mission of the Arctic Domain Awareness Center. Jeff has also worked in media production since 2013 and has been involved in almost every stage of production. He has a B.A. in Digital Media from Cedarville University, Cedarville Ohio and prior to working at UAA, he gained considerable media experience as a media specialist at KYUR Channel 13, Coastal Television Broadcasting Company This background has given him a wide range of skills to pull from in order to complete the various projects for ADAC and other UAA media needs. His regular production tasks include creating multiple media and communication products, ranging from video, animation, web, print, product design, and much more. To support the ever-expanding needs of ADAC, he has had to explore a wide variety of solutions to help support the Center’s mission and to accurately inform others of the complex projects being developed by its research teams.

Maj Gen Randy “Church” Kee

United States Air Force (ret) is the Executive Director of the Arctic Domain Awareness Center (ADAC) at the University of Alaska, a DHS Science and Technology (S&T) Office of University Programs Center of Excellence in Maritime Research, as position he has held since 4 January 2016. General Kee was appointed as a Commissioner to the U.S. Arctic Research Commission by the President of the United States on 10 November 2020. As the ADAC Executive Director, “Church” leads a distributed team of Arctic-focused S&T, education & student field programs and convening activities of knowledgeable Arctic researchers, policy makers, Alaska Native Leaders and maritime operators. During his 30-year military career, General Kee led at the Squadron, Group, Wing and Air Ops Center levels. General Kee’s staff assignments include U.S. Transportation Command, Headquarters USAF, and the U.S. Joint Staff in both Operations plus Strategic Plans and Policy Directorates. He has contributed to U.S. Arctic Strategy, supported domain awareness technology development, and Defense Support to Arctic crisis response. He culminated his military service as Director of Strategy, Policy, Planning and Capabilities for U.S. European Command (ECJ5/8) in Stuttgart, Germany. Church is a Global Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center Polar Institute, a Network Member of the Canadian hosted North American and Arctic Defense and Security Network at Trent University, Peterborough Ontario, and the U.S. designated lead for a technology working group for the U.S. Navy Office of Naval Research International Cooperative Engagement Program for Polar Research. Church also leads ADAC and associated university efforts in conducting Arctic Senior Leader Summits and Symposiums for Alaska Command, a Sub-Unified Command of U.S. Northern Command headquartered at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Alaska. Finally, he is also the co-chair of the State of Alaska Civilian Armed Services Team (ACAST) an advisory board to the Governor of Alaska on defense and security matters. His USAF Biography is available at:

USAF BiographyArctic Commissioner