Board of Directors
The Launch Alaska board of directors helps guide Launch Alaska’s strategic vision and direction.
Meet our board of directors, and learn more about the people who make our work possible.
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Angela Rodell served as the chief executive officer of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, a state-owned investment management firm responsible for managing the assets of the State of Alaska’s $80 billion sovereign wealth fund.
Angela’s tenure at APFC was distinguished by growth and transformation. In the six years she was at the helm, the Fund grew more than 35% in market value while delivering a steady 5% payout to the State of Alaska through an increased emphasis on investing in alternative markets and securing the necessary middle and back office technology to support all asset classes. A visionary leader, she promoted the use of transparent risk metrics in the investment process, successfully implementing a streamlined trade and risk system across the portfolio.
Before becoming CEO, Angela served as Alaska’s Commissioner of Revenue and Trustee for the Alaska Permanent Fund. She was responsible for building the State’s financial position, securing needed funding for State pension funds, restructuring outstanding debt and achieving upgrades to AAA from both Standard & Poor’s and FitchRatings. From 1996 through 2011, Angela was an investment banker and financial advisor working on multiple states including Alaska, California, Illinois and New York.
Along with serving as a member of the board for Launch Alaska, Angela currently serves as Chair for the Pacific Pension and Investment Institute and as a member of the investment committee for the Alaska Community Foundation. She has a BA from Marquette University and a MPA from the University of Kentucky.
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Ben Kellie is the Co-Founder & CEO of Applied Atomics, a nuclear fission startup unlocking large scale co-located power to unlock the next 1,000 years of energy for humanity. The company is vertically integrating proven Gen III+ LWR technologies with in-house EPC on the balance of plant to speed the deployment and lower the cost of nuclear power. Applied Atomics is a Launch Alaska portfolio company.
Previously, Ben founded The Launch Company which designed and built launch pad infrastructure and standardized flight hardware for the commercial space industry, flying on a number of rockets and satellites. That company was acquired by Voyager Space in 2021. Ben began his career at SpaceX where he played a critical role in new launch pad developed, starting on the west coast at Vandenberg AFB where he led the development of several key systems from design through deployment while also serving as Lead Engineer and Red Team leader for the first launch. He went on to lead the field deployment of the first stage landing barges from first steel in the shipyard through the first landing missions at sea for multiple iterations of "Just Read the Instructions" and "Of Course I Still Love You."
He has an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Ohio State University, and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from University of Alaska Fairbanks.
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Tom Hsieh is president of FLOAT Alaska LLC, parent company to FlyCoin, Ravn Alaska, and Northern Pacific Airways. Tom began his career technology, joining EarthLink in the 1990s, where he managed engineering and IT functions for over a decade. Tom oversaw EarthLink’s growth from a fledgling start-up through its successful IPO on the NASDAQ exchange.
Tom’s passion for entrepreneurship and innovation has led him to spearhead a number of organizations and initiatives focused on driving social change. He serves on the boards of the Intervalley Health Plan; the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership; Fuller Seminary; and the Claremont Graduate University. He co-founded FLOAT Shuttle Inc. in 2018, a venture-funded shuttle airline service catering to commuters and corporations in the greater Los Angeles area. In April 2020, Tom was instrumental in the acquisition of Ravn Air Group.
Tom received his Bachelor of Science in Physics from Harvey Mudd College and has an Executive MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School of Management. He and his wife, Bree Devones Hsieh, live a purposeful life and are committed to non-profit and civic efforts.
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An investor at Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund, Sam LaPierre’s experience includes time with WestRiver Group, Goodwater Capital, Simple Health, the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, AK Impact Investors, New America, Koltai & Company, LLC, Claremont McKenna Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and INJAZ Al-Arab. She holds an MBA from Yale School of Management, and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Affairs from Claremont McKenna College.
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Daniel Jensen is the Director, Business Development and Asset Management at Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI), one of twelve Alaska Native Regional Corporations. In his role, Daniel manages CIRI's energy investments in accordance with CIRI's mission to provide for the economic, cultural and social well-being of over 9,000 Alaska Native shareholders. CIRI’s flagship energy investment is Fire Island Wind, a 17.6 megawatt project located three miles off the coast of Anchorage in Cook Inlet. Fire Island Wind was the first utility scale energy project developed by an independent power producer in Alaska. CIRI has invested over $175 million in energy projects and companies both inside and outside of Alaska.
After completing an undergraduate and graduate degree in business and accounting from Montana State University, Daniel moved to Alaska to work at KPMG, an internationally recognized accounting firm, as an auditor. In this position Daniel was able to gain insight into a vast array of companies. After KPMG, Daniel worked at Waste Connections, which owns and operates Alaska Waste, as a district controller. At Waste Connections, Daniel was able to further his knowledge of regulated utilities, as well as build his business and financial acumen.
Daniel is an avid skier who volunteers at Anchorage Ski Club, a 501(c)(3) non-profit which owns and operates Arctic Valley Ski Area, as the board treasurer. During his tenure as treasurer, Daniel has overseen nearly 300% revenue growth and helped transition to a self-sustaining business model. Daniel also volunteers with Renewable Energy Alaska Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit advocating for renewable energy and energy efficiency in Alaska, again as the board treasurer. Daniel holds an active Certified Public Account license through the Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy, as well as a Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst certificate from the Corporate Finance Institute.
Learn More About the Launch Alaska Team
Launch Alaska is powered by people, from our board of directors to the individual staff members who drive our day-to-day operations. Meet our team members, and learn more about what inspires our mission to accelerate the energy transition.
