Sullivan-backed federal work drives Alaska shipyard training deal

The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority signed a workforce training agreement January 13, 2026, to prepare Alaskans for shipyard jobs tied to federal legislation U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan has promoted. The Republican senator said the Working Families Tax Cut includes funding for icebreakers homeported in Alaska and expanded Coast Guard and Navy maintenance work at Alaska shipyards.

AIDEA, JAG Marine Group, and Generations Southeast Vocational Training Center signed the memorandum of understanding. JAG operates the Ketchikan shipyard AIDEA owns. Generations Southeast provides training through facilities and virtual classes with support from Central Council Tlingit-Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Sealaska Corporation, and the State of Alaska.

Sullivan said the federal opportunities require more highly trained shipbuilding workers. The Ketchikan shipyard secured its first non-emergent Coast Guard maintenance contract since 2011 in 2023. More than 150 workers completed a $3.65 million repair on U.S. Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick in December 2023.

Doug Huff of JAG Marine Group said the agreement will provide family wage jobs to Alaskans right out of high school. Chalyee Éesh Richard Peterson, President of Central Council of Tlingit and Haida, said Tlingit and Haida will develop shipyard-specific certified training so Alaska jobs can be filled by Alaska workers.

JAG Marine took over the Ketchikan shipyard in late 2025 after AIDEA ended its contract with Vigor Alaska. Randy Ruaro, AIDEA's Executive Director, said AIDEA will continue to work with JAG to find additional partners to bring more opportunities from the shipyard.