governor Lemanu P. S. Mauga Contact information

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HC Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga

served two terms as Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa. Lemanu was elected in 2012 and again in 2016 with Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga. Born in the village of Nu’uuli, Lemanu was later bestowed the traditional High Chief title “Lemanu” by his family in Sa’ilele of Sua County, American Samoa. His parents are the late Sialega Palepoi Mauga of Nu’uuli, Pago Pago, and Sa’ilele, and Iva Pedro of Swains Island. He is an ordained “Deacon” with the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa (CCCAS) in the village of Sa’ilele.

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Spouse and Children

Governor Lemanu is married to Ella Gaea Perefoti Failautusi, daughter of Gaea Perefoti Failautusi and the late Patopae Liu Failautusi. Mrs. Ella Mauga was born and raised in her village of Vaitogi. She is currently serving in active duty in the United States Army as a Financial Management Inspector with the 1-25th Financial Management Support Unit at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Sergeant First Class (SFC) Ella Mauga deployed 5 times to the Middle East in support of the War on Terrorism: Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Lemanu was previously married to the late Pohakalani D. Bailey Mauga. Together, Lemanu and Ella have four children.

Education

Lemanu holds a Master of Public Administration degree from San Diego State University, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Hawaii-Manoa and an Associate of Arts from the American Samoa Community College. Lemanu graduated from Waianae High School in Hawaii after attending Samoana High School in American Samoa. He attended Matafao Elementary School in Faga’alu, American Samoa.

Professional Career

Lemanu first joined the military in 1978 as an enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He went back to college and graduated in 1982, receiving his commission as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army. He was deployed to the Persian Gulf War as an Infantry Platoon Leader, Operations Desert Shield and Operations Desert Storm. He retired briefly from the military in 2005. During this brief retirement period, Lemanu served the American Samoa Government in a variety of leadership positions.

Lemanu was Director of Army Instructions in the American Samoa Department of Education - JROTC Program. During the height of the War on Terrorism, Operation Iraqi Freedom, our nation was in great need for specialized military experience and skills, so Lemanu was recalled to active duty and sent immediately to combat zone in Iraq in 2006 as an Operations Officer. After serving in Iraq, he finally retired from the U.S Army in late 2007. He served a total of 23 years in the U.S. military.

Lemanu again returned to serve the American Samoa Government as Chief of the Office of Property Management and as Military Liaison for the Governor’s Office from 2007 to 2009. Lemanu received the honor from his district of Sua County #2, to serve as the county’s Senator in the Fono. In the Senate, Senator Lemanu served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Budget & Appropriations, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, Immigration, and Legal Affairs.

Lemanu served many other Senate Committees as Vice Chairman and or member. Senator Lemanu was appointed a Senate Representative to the Association of Pacific Islands Legislature (APIL). Senator Lemanu was also appointed as the Senate representative to the Board of Directors for the Development Bank of American Samoa, where he was elected Vice Chairman of the Board.

Personal Interests

Lemanu loves spending time with his family. He enjoys reading, listening to music, hiking, swimming, canoe paddling, fautasi rowing, playing volleyball, racquetball and basketball.