DIRECTORS OFFICE
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On Jan 1, 2025, the Dept. of Administrative Services (DAS) consists of eight Divisions: Directors Main Office, Archives & Records Management, Contract Housing, ASG Mailroom and Maintenance & Security at the Ofu, Tau & Tutuila Executive Office EOB Buildings. Since March of 2025, DAS has moved forward with the repair and renovation of the old Executive Bldg where the Governor and Lt. Governor Offices are situated. As of Dec 1, 2025, all EOB Offices are relocated and the EOB is under renovation until completion during 2026.
Historically, the Dept. of Administrative Services was established by the Dept. of the Interior in 1951. Previously, local administrative functions were part of the Island Government, which had in turn originated from the U.S. Navy's Office of the Secretary of Native Affairs. The early 1900-1951 Island Government therefore administered local govt.services, ie. Customs, Commerce, Transportation Print Shop, etc. By 1952, the new Dept. of Administrative Services conducted the Treasury, Procurement, Communications, Commerce, Security, Maintenance, Mail and Printshop functions. These multiple service roles continued during subsequent administrations. By the 1960s, a Materials Management Div. and, the Territorial Registrars Office were added. At the start of the local electorate in 1978, the dual Treasurer – Director of Adm. Services position was responsible for the first Computerized Payroll division and the Information Systems and Records Management Microfilming division
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In 1986, the Governor A.P. Lutali electorate reorganized government departments and created a separate Treasury, a separate Dept. of Adm. Services, and a separate Procurement Dept. The Dept. of Adm. Services became responsible for the Archives and Records Office, the Printshop, Mailroom, and Security-Maintenance. In 1989 during the Governor P.T. Coleman electorate, Government Contract Housing and USDA Meat Inspection Division were added while it's Information Systems Div. was transferred to the Treasury. The ASG Dept. of Administrative Services has therefore changed many times during it's dynamic history of serving the people of American Samoa and continues to advance under the Governor Nikolau Pula administration.
In summary, the current Dept. of Administrative Services developed during the Dept. of Interior appointee administrations of 1951-1977, when it's first Directors were federal personnel contracted from the United States. Locally hired American Samoan Directors then began in 1978, when American Samoa's own elected Governorships began. Directorship positionse became political thereafter and local law soon required Governor nominees to be confirmed by the Legislature of American Samoa. Over the years therefore, the Department's duties and responsibilities have guided the Treasury, Commerce Dept, Territorial Registrar, Vital Statistics Office and the Office of Archives & Records for all of the people of American Samoa.
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