Governor Ralph DLG. Torres and Lt. Governor Arnold I. Palacios recently appointed Robert H. Hunter to serve as Senior Policy Advisor for the Office of the Governor.
Prior to this new position, Hunter formerly served as the Secretary of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs (DCCA), where he led efforts to quadruple federal assistance for child and family services, as well as art and cultural programs for the community.
Under his leadership at DCCA, Hunter prioritized the improvement of the department’s delivery of programs and services by outlining plans and protocol that included more transparency between leadership and employees, as well as with social service clients.
His work at DCCA, in collaboration with division heads and employees, has resulted in:
· A full and active Chamorro and Carolinian Language Policy Commission for the first time in nearly a decade that has collaborated well with PSS, Indigenous Affairs, and Carolinian Affairs.
· The Child Care Development Fund identified as a “Model Program” by the Department of Health and Human Services with its federal grants doubled from $2.1 million to $4.2 million
· The reinstatement of the Arts Council’s eligibility for federal grants under the National Endowment for the Arts.
· The largest Flame Tree Arts Festival in CNMI history with increased support of our local artists and craftsmen as well as added support and revitalization of other CNMI cultural events on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
· The implementation with 500 Sails and Okeanos Marianas on the first traditional Chamorro voyaging vessels in the CNMI in over 200 years.
· The development and approval of the E-NAP program, making available $32 million in additional food assistance
· Increased support for families and children under the Division of Youth Services programs
· Collaboration with the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association on the development of the new CNMI Soccer Training Facility in Koblerville
· Revitalization of the Oleai Sports Complex in collaboration with federal partners and the Office of Planning and Development.
“Secretary Hunter has made DCCA a more efficient and responsive agency that has improved its resource management and streamlined better social services for our people. His heart is with DCCA, and he cares deeply about the employees and the community members that avail of the services. He will continue to assist DCCA in his new role as Senior Policy Advisor, but he will also work on addressing our other policy priorities around the government. Lt. Governor Palacios and I are confident that he will serve our Commonwealth well moving forward,” said Governor Torres.
Hunter will oversee DCCA until an Acting Secretary is designated.
In addition to serving as Secretary of Community and Cultural Affairs since 2016, Hunter has 30 years of public service experience and formerly served as a Director of the NMI Museum of History and Culture, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture, and as an Arts Program Manager for the CNMI Public School System.
He is also a former Chair of the Northern Marianas Council for the Humanities and a former member of the Pacific Arts Council.
He says his goal is to streamline policies and procedures with the Governor and Lt. Governor’s senior staff, as well as ensure efficiency as the government continues to restructure itself due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am extremely grateful for the trust and support given to me by Governor Torres and Lt. Governor Palacios and for the opportunity to have served as the Secretary for the DCCA and now as their Senior Policy Advisor. The DCCA has made tremendous strides over the last four years. I am blessed to have been able to have worked with such a great team of people at that department. I will continue to assist the department and the incoming Secretary during the transition, and look forward to the progress at the department continuing under the leadership of the new Secretary,” said Hunter.
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