Born on August 22, 1955, Lt. Governor Palacios was born on Saipan and attended Mt. Carmel School. He attended Portland State University in Oregon and earned his bachelor of science degree in Business Administration/Management.
During his time in the Legislature, he championed legislation and policies on natural resources, environmental conservation, economic development, and federal relations. He was a member of the Governor’s Section 902 Consultation team in 2016, when he helped articulate the CNMI’s position on labor, immigration, and US military buildup proposals. As Senate President, he created the Office of Planning and Development, which establishes development objectives, standards, and principles for the CNMI’s desired land use for residential, recreational, agricultural, commercial, and industrial needs.
As Lt. Governor, he oversees the Office of Planning and Development, the Office of Grants Management, and the CNMI’s permitting agencies and leads policy initiatives on government efficiency, business permitting processes, and regulatory functions. He also plays an active role in the CNMI’s relationship with the Federal Government with discussions on labor viability and proposed military projects in the Marianas.