Peleti Mauga | |
|---|---|
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| 8th Governor of American Samoa | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2021 | |
| Lieutenant | Salo Ale |
| Preceded by | Lolo Matalasi Moliga |
| 9th Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa | |
| In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2021 | |
| Governor | Lolo Matalasi Moliga |
| Preceded by | Faoa Aitofele Sunia |
| Succeeded by | Talauega Eleasalo Ale |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 3, 1960 Nu'uuli, American Samoa, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Pohakalani Mauga
(m. 1988; died 2016)Ella Failautusi (m. 2018) |
| Education | American Samoa Community College University of Hawaii, Manoa (BA) San Diego State University (MPA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Rank | Major |
| Battles/wars | Persian Gulf War |
Lemanu Palepoi Sialegā Mauga (born January 3, 1960[1]) is an American Samoan politician who is serving as the eighth governor of American Samoa since January 3, 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, Mauga served as a senator in the American Samoa Senate, where he became the chairman of both the Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Senate Homeland Security Committee.[2]
Mauga was born in Nu'uuli, American Samoa. After attending the American Samoa Community College, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He received a master's degree in public administration from San Diego State University on July 30, 2012, a graduation ceremony held at the Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium in American Samoa.[3]
Mauga served in the U.S. military for more than 20 years, including in the Gulf War and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars before he retired with the rank of major.[2] Following his retirement, Mauga became the director of Army Instructions and continued to work with American Samoa's JROTC.[2]
Mauga also became the chief property manager for the Government of American Samoa's office of property management.[2] He became an American Samoan Senator in 2009.[2]
In October 2011, gubernatorial candidate Lolo Letalu Matalasi Moliga picked Mauga as his running mate for lieutenant governor of American Samoa in the forthcoming 2012 gubernatorial election on November 6, 2012.[2] Mauga was Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa from 2013 to 2021.
In the 2020 American Samoa gubernatorial election, Mauga and his running mate Talauega Eleasalo Ale were elected governor and lieutenant governor respectively. Mauga assumed the office in January 2021.[4]
