Elected: American Samoa's 9th governor in 2024
Early Years: Born 1955, in American Samoa
Education: Graduated from Marist Brothers High School in American Samoa. He later studied at Menlo College in California, as well as Brigham Young University in Utah, served a mission in Samoa in 1978, and completed his education at George Mason University in Virginia.
Career: Served as the special assistant for Hawaii U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye (1981-1992). Afterwards, he Joined the office of American Samoa delegate Fofō Iosefa Fiti Sunia, assisted the Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate, and was the staff director for the U.S. House subcommittee on public works and transportation.
In 1993, he joined the United States Department of the Interior and worked for the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) as a policy desk officer. He was named the Director of the OIA in 2002 and became the first Samoan ever to hold the position. He also served as the chairman of the U.S.-Federated States of Micronesia Joint Economic Management Committee, the Federated States of Micronesia and Marshall Trust Fund Committee, and the U.S.-Marshall Islands Joint Economic Management and Financial Accountability Committee. Pula served as the Acting Assistant Secretary of Insular Affairs for a period of nine months in 2009 and for a second time in 2014. He stepped down as OIA Director in 2022
Learn more on the Governor’s official website.
Nickname: Let God Be First
Capital: Pago Pago
Population: 54,194
Size: The state covers 77 square miles
Economic drivers: territorial government, tuna cannery
Did you know? About 30 ethnic Samoans from American Samoa have played in the National Football League, and more than 200 in NCAA Division I college football.
