Our Governors

Assumed office: Governor Apatang was sworn into office on July 24, 2025, following the death of Governor Arnold Palacios, for whom Governor Apatang served as Lieutenant Governor.     

Early Years: Governor Apatang was born on July 10, 1948, on Guam.    

Education: George Washington High School

Career: Before serving as Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Governor Apatang served as the Mayor of Saipan from January 2015 to January 2023. He also served three terms in the Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature from January 1999 to January 2011 and served as a member of the Saipan, Northern Islands Municipal Council of the Northern Marianas Commonwealth from January 1997 to January 1999. Prior to his career as a public servant, Governor Apatang retired from the United States Army as a First Sergeant after a 20-year career as a recruiter, platoon sergeant, operations officer, station commander, drill sergeant, and Equal Opportunity NCO.

 

About the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Nickname: America's Best Kept Secret

Capital: Sipan 

Population: 51,120

Size: 183.5 square miles

Economic drivers: tourism, garment manufacturing, and fishing

Did you know? The Indigenous people of both the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam are the Chamorro (SHUH-mah-roh) people.