Persily has worked for more than a decade on oil and gas issues for three Alaska governors and the Alaska State Legislature. He is currently is an aide handling oil and gas issues for Alaska State House Finance Committee Co-Chair Mike Hawker.

Persily previously served as Deputy Commissioner at the Alaska Department of Revenue until 2003 and returned in 2004 to assist the state and North Slope oil and gas producers with developing a natural gas pipeline to serve North American consumers. He later worked in the Office of the Governor of Alaska in Washington, D.C., assisting with oil and gas, Arctic, commerce, transportation and tax issues.

In addition, Persily has represented the state at oil and gas conferences and presented on Alaska oil and gas and fiscal issues. According to the Obama Administration, Persily is known statewide for his bipartisan credentials -- he has worked for Democrats and Republicans -- and his knowledge on oil and gas matters, particularly the history of the 40-year effort to develop a North Slope natural gas pipeline.

Persily served as editor of the Department of Revenue's 2002 report, "State Financial Participation in an Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline." He holds a B.A. from Purdue University.