Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula recently made key appointments to the boards of the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) and the American Samoa Medical Center.

For ASPA, Pulaali’i appointed Talaimalo Marcellus Uiagalelei as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. According to ASPA's statute, the Governor appoints the board chairman, while the vice chairman is selected by the board members.

The Governor expressed confidence in Uiagalelei's ability to provide valuable legal analysis and policy advice to govern ASPA’s operations. Uiagalelei has practiced as a private attorney in the territory for 15 years and previously served as Legal Counsel to the Governor and the American Samoa Political Status Commission in 2006. He has also represented the American Samoa Government Employees Retirement Fund and is currently an Assistant Attorney General in the Attorney General’s Office.

Uiagalelei succeeds Theodore "Ted" Le'iato as the ASPA Board's chairman. The Governor thanked Le'iato for his leadership during a challenging interim period. Although Le'iato was renominated for another four-year term by Governor Pulaali’i, he was not confirmed by the Senate in the recent session. 

Additionally, the Governor appointed Maaelopa Bob Tuiasosopo to the Hospital Authority Board during a legislative recess last year. However, his name was not confirmed by the Senate in the recent session, receiving only seven votes in favor, which was also insufficient. At his confirmation hearing, Tuiasosopo indicated his active involvement on the LBJ Board since November. Attorney General Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde issued an opinion stating that Tuiasosopo could continue to serve on the Hospital Authority Board until the end of the Legislative session. 

The Governor noted in a memo issued recently that Tuiasosopo’s recess appointment will expire at the conclusion of the next regular or special session of the Legislature, and he plans to resubmit Tuiasosopo’s name for Senate confirmation. Governor Pulaali’i expressed confidence in Tuiasosopo's record of leadership, noting that his extensive experience on public and nonprofit boards makes him well-qualified to serve on the LBJ Tropical Medical Center Board.

Another recess appointment made by the Governor was Jansen Poyer for the Board of Directors of the American Samoa Power Authority. Governor Pulaali’i is urging the Senate to reconsider this important appointment, and that Mr. Jansen Poyer, is a product of the local education system and a proud graduate of Fagaitua High School. 

The Governor emphasized that Poyer’s appointment meets the statutory requirement that at least two board members have experience in project planning, project engineering, and effective communication skills. Poyer has over 17 years of demonstrated engineering leadership experience in the aerospace industry, having worked with Boeing and L3 Technologies, and he aims to help build local capacity and training for workforce development.