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Frank T. Richards, P.E., was appointed Deputy Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects on Jan. 4, 2011.  The Deputy Federal Coordinator is based at the Anchorage field office.

Richards is a registered professional engineer with broad engineering, transportation, management, budget and legislative experience.   Before joining the OFC, Richards was deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, where he was responsible for Alaska's roads, highways, bridges and ports. He led development of the department's annual budget and presented the administration's programs to the Legislature, advocating for budget and legislative priorities.  Richards collaborated with the gasline projects identifying infrastructure needs that would support development and advocated for legislative funding to accomplish the projects in advance of pipeline construction.  Prior to serving as deputy commissioner, Richards was responsible for maintenance and operations of highways, airports and facilities statewide and at the regional level. 

As a professional engineer, Richards has worked on large scale infrastructure, hydroelectric, mining and oil development projects including the Red Dog lead and zinc mine near Kotzebue, Alaska, the Bradley Lake hydroelectric project at Homer, Alaska, and various North Slope oilfield projects. 

Richards also has worked in Canada.  In 2003, he left state service for a year to work as program director at Omega Oil in Calgary.  He was responsible for obtaining exploration and development leases in heavy oil prospects in Northern Alberta, including negotiations with a First Nations band for land and oil development.

Richards graduated in 1982 from the University of Maine with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and completed the Arctic engineering program at the University of Alaska, Anchorage in 1986.