CNMI governor prods military to accelerate projects
- Admin
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
By Bryan Manabat
Saipan- Northern Marianas Gov. David Apatang has urged the Department of War to pick up the pace on its projects in the commonwealth, which currently relies on military investments as an alternative to the stagnant tourism.
“This is really critical for us here,” Apatang said during a two-day stakeholders meeting last week. "I’m looking forward to all the projects that can move as fast as we can move. We are ready to help; we are ready to assist in every way possible to move things forward.”
One of DoW's major projects in the CNMI is the Tinian Divert airfield, now 83 percent complete, with full delivery expected in 2027.
The department will invest $800 million on Tinian. Besides the airfield, the military will also undertake the restoration of the island's port breakwater, removal of harbor dredging and finger pier and improvements to the wharf.
The meeting held Dec. 4 and 5 in Garapan brought together DoW officials, CNMI leaders and Joint Region Marianas representatives to discuss defense initiatives, construction updates, and economic opportunities.
U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Josh Lasky, commander of Joint Task Force-Micronesia, thanked local partners for their input.
“What we really need is a little bit of reflection, feedback where we may be falling short, which gives us the ability to pay attention to the right things and hold ourselves accountable along the way,” he said.
Rear Adm. Brett Mietus, commander of Joint Region Marianas, emphasized teamwork.
“Having a great idea is the first step, but it’s not the hardest step. It’s following through on that idea, the action, and being able to produce the outcome. Please continue to be demanding partners in this, hold us accountable for giving you the information you need,” Mietus said.
On Saipan, potential troop labor projects are proposed for the former U.S. Agency for Global Media site and at the Saipan International Airport, to include K-span shelters, which are durable, arched metal buildings used for various needs, and mobile aircraft arresting equipment pads, according to a JRM article.
Rota proposals include an apron expansion, aviation fuels facility and fire protection facilities.
The local business sector seeks to capitalize on economic opportunities created by the military buildup in the CNMI.
The CNMI Small Business Development Center Network will host the 2026 CNMI Industry Day to provide a venue for local companies to understand the military and federal procurement landscape.
The Industry Day is co-hosted by the Northern Marianas College, the Pacific Air Force and the Commonwealth Bureau of Military Affairs.
This marks the second consecutive year that CNMI SBDC will host Industry Day—an encore made possible by the overwhelming success and strong turnout of last year’s event.
The 2026 event will be held on Saipan on Jan. 27; Tinian on Jan. 28; and Rota on Jan 29. Venue locations will be announced soon.
Industry Day serves as a bridge between federal contracting opportunities and the local small business community.
Speakers and experts will offer insights into upcoming projects, connect directly with Department of War partners and other agencies, and learn how to position their businesses to compete effectively for government contracts.
Other highlights from the JRM meeting included:
Economic development: A $300 million purchase agreement was awarded to a CNMI company for construction materials, part of efforts to expand local vendor participation in military contracts.
Biosecurity measures: New protocols were announced to combat invasive species, including little fire ant screening for cargo from Guam and brown tree snake canine inspections.
Military activities: The large-scale Valiant Shield exercise is slated to return to the Marianas in 2026, with operations planned across Saipan, Tinian and Rota. The exercise will integrate multiple branches of the U.S. military in joint operations, reinforcing regional readiness and coordination.
Community support: The Innovative Readiness Training program, led by the 1984th U.S. Army Hospital-Pacific, will provide free medical, dental, and optometry services to CNMI residents. The mission doubles as hands-on training for service members to improve deployment readiness.
Following the Saipan sessions, a public meeting was held in Tinian to share updates and answer community questions. The next stakeholders meeting is scheduled for March 2026.
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