Sen. Murkowski names chief of staff

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Alaska's new U.S. senator has picked a new chief of staff for her Washington, D.C. office.

Justin Stiefel is a graduate of Dimond High School in Anchorage, the University of Idaho at Moscow and the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

Stiefel recently served as legislative counsel for U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska. Before that, he was a legislative aide and deputy press secretary for Stevens. Prior to working for Stevens, he worked in the Anchorage office of U.S. Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska.

In addition to directing Murkowski's staff, Stiefel will continue as the primary legislative counsel to Murkowski on energy issues, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and a natural gas pipeline.