The Honorable Anthony M. Babauta (’97)

B.A., Public Relations

My dad’s military service and my mom’s volunteerism bestowed upon me, at a very early age, a desire and a firm determination to serve this country and my community."

Title: Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas, U.S. Department of the Interior
Location: Washington, D.C.

A Guam native, Tony Babauta (’97) is the first Pacific Islander to hold the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas position. The Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) is a unit of the U.S. Department of the Interior that oversees federal administration of several U.S. Territories and Compact nations. It is the successor to the Bureau of Insular Affairs of the War Department, which administered certain territories from 1902 to 1939, and the Office of Territorial Affairs (formerly the Division of Territories and Island Possessions and then the Office of Territories) in the Interior Department, which was responsible for certain territories from the 1930s to the 1990s. The word "insular" comes from the Latin word insula ("island").

Gonzaga Connections

  • Member of Gonzaga’s Washington, D.C. Alumni Chapter: Social Media committee, Mission and Service committee
  • GAMP committee
  • Social committee
  • Athletics committee
  • Friends of Father Al

Prior to his appointment by President Barack Obama and confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Babauta served as senior advisor to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. Before joining the Interior Department, Babauta served for 12 years in the U.S. House of Representatives as professional staff and as Staff Director for the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife on the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee.

During his tenure on Capitol Hill, Babauta was instrumental in advancing the renegotiated compact with the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam war claims legislation and the political advancement of Puerto Rico. He also directed the Subcommittee’s jurisdiction and responsibilities over other issues pertaining to the Department of the Interior. He has developed and maintained working relationships with island leaders, including presidents, governors and ambassadors.



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