Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell moved to Anchorage in 1973 at the age of 10 with his parents, Pat and Thelma Parnell, and brother after his father had been stationed at Fort Richardson. Sean graduated from East High in 1980. He then received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington, and a J.D. from Seattle (formerly University of Puget Sound) School of Law in 1987. He was admitted to practice law in Alaska in 1987 and in Washington, D.C. in 1988. He was associated with Hartig, Rhodes, Attorneys at Law, during this period. Sean was elected to Alaska House of Representatives in 1992 and after serving two terms there was elected to Alaska State Senate in 1996 for one term. He co-chaired Alaska Senate Finance Committee 1998-2000. He was elected Lieutenant Governor on November 7, 2006.

Lieutenant Governor Parnell became employed at Conoco Phillips 2000-2003. In 2004 he began as Deputy Director, State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Oil and Gas. Then, in 2005 the Lieutenant Governor became a partner, Patton & Boggs LLP, which he terminated on December 3, 2006.

Sean has been married to Sandy L. Parnell for 19 years and they have two daughters, Grace and Rachel, who attend Grace Christian School. They enjoy running, hiking, fly-fishing, playing volleyball and soccer, and staying involved in their church and community. (bio and picture from State of Alaska web pages)