LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR
SECTION 16 REPORTING OBLIGATIONS

     The undersigned makes, constitutes and appoints each of Roger K. Newport,
Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Joseph C. Alter,
Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Gregory A. Hoffbauer,
Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, Brian S. Duba, Corporate Counsel, and
Amy K. Dornacher, Assistant Corporate Secretary, each acting individually, as
the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and
authority on behalf of and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to:

      (1)	prepare, execute, acknowledge, deliver and file with the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") Forms 3, 4, and
5 (including any amendments thereto) with respect to the securities of AK
Steel Holding Corporation (the "Company") in accordance with Section 16(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, each as amended from time to time
(the "Exchange Act");
      (2)	seek or obtain, as the undersigned's representative and on the
undersigned's behalf, information concerning the undersigned's transactions
in or with respect to the Company's securities from any third party, including
brokers, employee benefit plan administrators and trustees; and
      (3)	to do and perform any and all other acts for and on behalf of the
undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to prepare, acknowledge,
complete and execute such Form 3, 4 or 5 (including any amendments
thereto) and timely deliver and file such form with the SEC and any national
securities exchange or similar authority.

      The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that:

      (1) this Power of Attorney authorizes, but does not require, each of the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact to act in his or her discretion on information
provided to such attorneys-in-fact without independent verification of such
information;
      (2)	any documents prepared and/or executed by any such
attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of
Attorney will be in such form and will contain such information and disclosure
as the attorney-in-fact, in his or her discretion, deems necessary or desirable;
      (3)	neither the Company nor the attorney-in-fact assumes (i) any
liability for the undersigned's responsibility to comply with the requirements
of the Exchange Act, (ii) any liability of the undersigned for any failure to
comply with such requirements, or (iii) any obligation or liability of the
undersigned for profit disgorgement under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act;
      (4)	this Power of Attorney does not relieve the undersigned from
responsibility for compliance with the undersigned's obligations under the
Exchange Act, including without limitation the reporting requirements under
Section 16 of the Exchange Act; and
      (5)	the undersigned hereby authorizes any third party, including brokers,
employee benefit plan administrators and trustees, with information concerning
the undersigned's transactions in or with respect to the Company's securities
to release such information to any of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact for the
purpose of enabling such attorney-in-fact to prepare, execute, acknowledge,
deliver and/or file a Form 3, 4 or 5 (including any amendments thereto) with
the SEC and any national securities exchange or similar authority on behalf of
the undersigned, and approves and ratifies any such release of information.
The undersigned hereby further gives and grants each of the foregoing
attorneys-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform all and every
act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary or appropriate to be done
in and about the foregoing matters as fully to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do if present, hereby ratifying all that each such
attorney-in-fact of, for and on behalf of the undersigned, shall lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

      This Power of Attorney shall, upon its execution, supersede and replace
all prior authorizations to act for the undersigned with respect to the matters
herein covered.

      This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Form 3, 4 and 5 (or any amendment
thereto) with respect to the Company's securities, unless earlier revoked by
the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to each of the foregoing
attorneys-in-fact.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of
Attorney to be executed as of this 23rd day of July, 2015.

	/s/ Eric S. Petersen
	Eric S. Petersen

	STATE OF OHIO		)
				)
	COUNTY OF BUTLER	)

	On this 23rd day of July, 2015, the forgoing signatory personally
appeared before me, and acknowledged that he executed the foregoing
instrument for the purposes therein contained.

	IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and
	official seal.

	/s/ Betty J. Longworth
	Notary Public

	My commission expires:  June 20, 2019