After a “leaked copy” of an organizational chart for the Governor’s Office began circulating on social media, KHJ News sent questions to the Chief of Staff Taito Aliitasi Afuola Mauga to seek clarification on the new structure.
In her response, Taito said the “chart is an unofficial one, therefore, it changes daily due to the transition stage.”
The chart shows that staff in the Governor’s Office would be responsible for certain departments. KHJ News understands that these staff members are Executive Advisors.
For economic development, the executive advisors named on the chart are Crystal Ve’ave’a and Solip Hong, Lorena Seu for Education, Brett Butler is Finance, Andrew Pelesasa for Government Operations, and Bethany Toelupe for Health and Human Services. And the two remaining fields are Natural Resources and Safety & Security, whose executive advisors are not named.
The chart also lists the two Executive Directors, which we have already announced before, Feo Lagafuaina and Sala Samuelu.
The chart lists departments that the executive advisors are responsible for. As an example, departments listed under Finance are Treasury, Budget, Procurement, Audit, Property Management, American Samoa Economic Development Authority, Office of Financial Institutions, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), as well as CIP and Special Programs.
Photo: Leaked Image of organizational chart from Facebook.
We asked the Chief of Staff about the rationale behind department directors reporting to Executive Advisors, instead of directly to the Governor.
According to Taito, directors report directly to the Governor as in the previous administration.
We asked for the names of the advisors responsible for Natural Resources and Safety and Security. The Chief of Staff said they should be made known in the coming week.
