PALIKIR, Pohnpei—On August 29th, 2022, His Excellency David W. Panuelo—President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)—appointed Jane Chigiyal to become his new Chief of Staff. Formerly the FSM’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from late 2011 to late 2021, where she served under President Manny Mori, President Peter M. Christian, and President David W. Panuelo, Chief of Staff Chigiyal has a distinguished career in the FSM Government as a competent and capable diplomat and manager, with previous positions in the Department of Foreign Affairs including Deputy Secretary.
“It is an honor and privilege to be selected as President David W. Panuelo’s Chief of Staff for the remainder of this administration,” Chief of Staff Chigiyal said. “Given the many ongoing and forthcoming events and items of critical interest to the Nation and its citizens—including the forthcoming election of a new Vice President; the upcoming referendum on proposed amendments to the Constitution as a result of the FSM’s Fourth Constitutional Convention; and proposed legislation of significant interest to the Executive Branch for the Congress’ consideration, including legislation on developing a national marine spatial plan, permanently funding the Cyber-Security & Intelligence Bureau, and the Freedom of Information Act—there is a lot of work to be done, and my assurance to the Nation’s citizenry is that I will do my very best to ensure that the administration accomplishes as much as it can in the interest of our country and its people.”
The FSM National Government extends its appreciation to Chief of Staff Jane Chigiyal for her historical and contemporaneous service to the Nation and its citizens. The Government further extends its appreciation to Lorin S. Robert (the President’s Special Advisor on Foreign & Political Affairs) and Richard A. Clark (the President’s Press Secretary & Special Assistant), who both served as Acting Chief of Staff in the period between Chief of Staff Chigiyal’s appointment and the departure of the former Chief of Staff, Leo A. Falcam Jr., who serves as the FSM’s Chief Negotiator for the current round of negotiations regarding the Compact of Free Association, as Amended.
