Pipeline People
Janna Miller
Integrity Management Engineering Supervisor
Published August 2006

Driven. Disciplined. Determined. Meet Janna Miller, triathlon animal and Integrity Management Engineering supervisor for Alyeska. A lifelong Alaskan and UAA graduate, she has been with Alyeska for 17 years, after starting as a contractor in 1989. Born in Fairbanks, her mother moved the family to Southeast Alaska: while the interior's harsh winter temperatures were no surprise, a June snowfall was the deal breaker.

To most, Janna's idea of fun is even more demanding than work. Competitive swimming in high school spring-boarded her into the world of triathlons: she recently won first place for women and sixth overall in the 15th annual Sourdough Triathlon, a half Iron Man and Alaska's longest triathlon. She completed the 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run in 5 hours, 20 minutes and 34 seconds.

Q: When did you start running? And why triathlons?

My running has been an off and on thing, always having to stop for one injury or another. I was a swimmer from the age of seven until 30, when I was forced to quit due to a shoulder injury. I lost the thing I loved to do, so I went looking for something else and discovered biking. That worked for me and soon friends asked me to do the biking portion of the Sourdough Triathlon as part of a relay team. That's when I met my husband, who was the event race director and very into triathlons. A year later at the same race, I asked him to marry me.

Q: What is integrity management engineering and why is it important?

My group is responsible for all things corrosion related on the Trans Alaska Pipeline System: pump stations, fuel gas line, the main pipeline, and the Valdez Marine Terminal. We detect and mitigate corrosion inside and outside of all piping. We look at the supports for the berths, storage tanks and relief tanks, inside and out - all of this with the idea that corrosion is inevitable, but we want to manage it to either stop it from forming or slow it from growing. We recommend places where pipes need repair to ensure the integrity of the equipment and pipeline. It's all about being proactive and striving to do the right thing. Many Alyeska employees are from Alaska, like me. What a neat thing, to have that history and be able to support the base economy and be able to stand up and say `we're doing the right thing'. That makes me very proud.