Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) is pleased to announce the official appointment of Ryan K. Tuato’o as the utility's new Chief Operations Officer (COO). Tuato’o brings over 25 years of professional management, leadership, and operational experience to the role, having spent nearly two decades serving the community of American Samoa through critical utility and environmental sectors.

Tuato’o is a familiar face within ASPA, having served as the Marketing and Customer Service Manager since June 2023, and previously as the Customer Service Manager from 2009 to 2023. During his tenure, he successfully managed a large workforce of over 40 personnel encompassing meter readers, cashiers, billing clerks, call center staff, and collections teams. He has been instrumental in securing the utility's financial sustainability through optimized revenue collection, introducing modern online procurement processes to maximize budgetary efficiency, and spearheading vital public outreach campaigns centered on energy and water conservation.

In addition to his customer operations background, Tuato’o has worked side-by-side with ASPA executive leadership on highly critical initiatives, including managing the non-technical needs, land issues, and permitting processes for ASPA’s Renewable Energy (RE) projects. Tuato’o holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Leadership from Grand Canyon University and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology from Seattle University, where he began his management career overseeing facilities and athletic operations. His prior experience also includes serving as a Water Policy Analyst and Environment Specialist III for the American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency (AS EPA), where he monitored compliance with local drinking water standards.

"Ryan’s intimate understanding of our daily operations, paired with his proven track record of bridging community relations, government liaison duties, and large-scale staff development, makes him the ideal choice to lead our operations forward," said ASPA Executive Director Tupuimatagi Katrina Mariner. His appointment will take effect upon execution of an employment agreement, with a structured transition to ensure continuity of operations.