Face to Face
Tom Coghill
Line Wide Civil Projects Manager

Tom Coghill is a third-generation Alaskan whose grandfather, John Coghill, arrived here in 1906 and walked from Seward to Fairbanks, then settled in Nenana. John went back to England to retrieve his wife and returned to Nenana to settle down. He raised three sons, ran a general store and operated the local stagecoach. Tom inherited his grandfather’s adventurous spirit and climbed Mt. McKinley in 1976 as a junior in high school. He graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a degree in civil engineering and now enjoys home landscaping and gardening with his wife Jean. Jean is a master gardener whose work has been featured in Sunset magazine. The Coghills’ front yard features rose gardens and a pond with a waterfall, quite a feat for being located in North Pole, Alaska.

Q: How did you get your start at Alyeska?

I joined Alyeska in 1989 as a member of the field engineering group. I was assigned the job of monitoring pump station, fuel gas line and oil storage tank performance with respect to frost heave/settlement. This group later became the Integrity Division of the Engineering Department. I moved into the Projects Department in 1992 on a short-term assignment to establish the Oil Spill Contingency Plan (OSCP) containment areas and access roads along the pipeline. After that I stayed, enjoying the many challenges of field and construction work over the past 14 years.

Q: What are your responsibilities as Line Wide Civil Project Manager?

I am responsible for about $50 million dollars worth of civil projects and programs that are performed linewide. These responsibilities include all civil construction work, including the aboveground pipeline support structures, pipeline and roadway bridges, and many other structures. I lead a team of six construction managers and supervisors that are instrumental in getting these many jobs done well. I cannot say enough about how critical this team is for Alyeska’s success. They are all topnotch professionals.

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you face while on the job?

My biggest challenges are time limits and working on continual improvements. There is no shortage of work and if given the chance, I would like to see 10 more hours in every day!