Medina installed as Saipan’s new postmaster

The new postmaster for Saipan was sworn into office yesterday, vowing to provide reliable mail service to island residents.

Hector Medina replaces the late George Diaz, who passed away in February.

“I’ve been looking forward to coming over here,” Medina said shortly after the oath-taking ceremony held at the Chalan Kanoa post office yesterday morning. “With the economy being the way it is, we will make sure that people are given the service they demand—that people get their mail in a timely fashion.”

Asked about the possibility of getting home postal delivery established on Saipan, Medina said he is not optimistic it will happen soon.

“I doubt it would happen during my tenure,” he said. “Saipan has lots of requirements that need to be met before home mail delivery becomes a reality. Chief of those requirements is a house numbering system.”

According to a USPS press release, Medina’s task as postmaster includes supervising nine postal employees and the daily distribution of approximately 14,000 pieces of mail to 5,900 Chalan Kanoa Post Office box customers. He also oversees the contract postal unit operations on Capital Hill, in San Vicente, and on Tinian, which encompass another 2,800 customers.

Leo Tudela, the U.S. Postal Service’s director of Asia Pacific relations, touted Medina’s record during his 35 years as a postal employee. “Of all the candidates for this job, he is the best-suited and most qualified. He has done an excellent job in Guam and we’re sure he will succeed here,” said Tudela, who administered the oath.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial was present to welcome Medina. “I look forward to your community involvement and your continuous efforts to improve the delivery of mail services for our islands,” he said.

Medina is a 35-year postal employee who had served as the officer-in-charge (acting postmaster) at the Guam Post Office for six months before assuming the same position on Saipan in February, and was eventually selected as the permanent Saipan postmaster in May. He began his postal career in 1973 at the Hagatna Station in Guam. He served as a mail carrier for 17 years, and then assumed a variety of supervisory positions within the Guam Post Office over the years.

Medina was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Indiana. He settled in Guam 38 years ago after serving in the U.S. Navy. He and his wife Elizabeth have been married for 36 years and reside in Gualo Ria. They have three adult children and seven grand children. Medina enjoys watching and coaching sports, including Little League baseball.