Congressman Faleomavaega welcomes Dr. Fatilua Fatilua as a member of his Washington, DC staff.  Dr. Fatilua recently completed his PhD in public administration and policy, with an emphasis on politics and administration, at the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, at the State University of New York at Albany.

Dr. Fatilua’s father is Fatilua Satiu of Salimu Fagaloa in Uplou, and of the Fualautoalasi family in Nua and Seetaga, American Samoa. His mother is Faatuaiitaua Silafau Satiu of Papa Puleia and Palauli in Savaii.

 “I am pleased to welcome Dr. Fatilua as a member of my staff,” Faleomavaega said.  “I especially commend Fatilua for his persistence and hard work in achieving such a high goal of obtaining a doctorate degree in this field of study from a well-known university.”

“His success underscores the importance of higher education and taking advantage of the many opportunities available in this great nation.  It is important to recognize the success of Samoans around the world, but it is particularly important to emphasize the idea that education is central to our success and development as a society.”

“This is why throughout my career I have emphasized the importance of education, encouraged our young people to pursue higher education, and highlighted their achievements in academics, sports, military service, teaching, etc,” Faleomavaega said.  “God has blessed our young people with many gifts and I will continue to encourage our young people to use their God-given gifts in pursuit of higher education.  At every opportunity, I will also join with them to celebrate their accomplishments.”

“At this time, it is my privilege to again congratulate Dr. Fatilua and welcome him to my staff.  Dr. Fatilua’s research interests are in bureaucratic discretion, political accountability, legislative institutions, regulatory policies, and administrative law.  His dissertation focused on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulatory review of media ownership from 1996-2004.  The purpose was to examine multiple sources of external and internal influence on the administrative rulemaking process.”

Before moving to upstate New York in 2001, Dr. Fatilua also served as the Executive Director of the Samoan Community Development Center in San Francisco, a non-profit community center providing for the needs of Samoans and Pacific Islanders in the San Francisco Bay Area.  He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration from the San Francisco State University.

“I am confident that Dr. Fatilua will serve our people well, and I am pleased that he has accepted a position in my Washington, DC office where he can put his expertise to work for the good of American Samoa,” Faleomavaega concluded.