David Apatang (I) has been the governor of the Northern Mariana Islands since July 2025. Before his term as governor, he led a long career both in the army and the public sector. This article is an overview of Apatang’s background, accomplishments, and impact. It also aims to examine the influence that his experience has had on his actions as governor.Â
Apatang was born on July 10, 1948, in Guam. He attended George Washington High School and enlisted in the military after graduation. Apatang served a 20-year career in the US Army as a recruiter, platoon sergeant, operations officer, station commander, drill sergeant, and Equal Opportunity non-commissioned officer. During this time, Apatang also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and Communications from San Francisco State University.
After retiring from the army in 1987, Apatang served as a member of the Saipan & Northern Islands Municipal Council of the Northern Marianas Commonwealth from 1997 to 1999. In 1999, he began the first of three terms in the NMI Legislature. Following the end of his third term in 2011, he served as the Mayor of Saipan from January 2015 to January 2023. Then, from January 2023 to July 2025, Apatang served as Lieutenant Governor of the NMI. After the death of Governor Arnold Palacios (R) in July 2025, Apatang assumed office as the 11th governor of the NMI.
On the local level, Apatang identifies with the Covenant party. Starting in 2001, he served as an official member of the Republican Party before becoming an independent in 2021.
In January 2023, Governor Palacios and Lieutenant Governor Apatang became the first candidates from a non-recognized political party to be elected into those roles. The Palacios-Apatang administration significantly improved the NMI’s relationship with the federal government through discussions surrounding labor viability and proposed military projects.
During his term as governor, Apatang welcomed a renowned return of more than 10,000 ancestral artifacts to the NMI. According to the Office of the Governor, this return was significant to the cultural landscape of the islands, marking a “profound step in restoring our cultural heritage and strengthening the connection between our people and the traditions, knowledge, and legacy of our ancestors.”
Countering the nationwide opioid crisis in the NMI appears to be a priority for Apatang. On July 29, 2025, he enacted Public Law 23-19 to establish the Opioid Proceeds Council (OPC). The OPC will manage, distribute, and oversee the use of the opioid settlement funds. Additionally, Apatang has made steps towards improving the sustainability of the islands by reducing waste, preserving natural resources, and actively participating in clean-up initiatives. On August 25, 2025, he met with all the NMI’s regulatory agencies and encouraged them to cooperate with NMI on a project building solar farms to bring electrical billing relief to the NMI, indicating the major areas he will focus on during his term as governor. As of now, it is unclear if he will seek reelection at the end of the current term.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
0 Comments