Pua is acting DFEMS chief

The Torres administration appointed last week an acting commissioner for the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services following its decision not to reappoint former commissioner Clyde Norita to the post.

Assistant fire chief Juan A. Pua was appointed acting commissioner last May 17.

According to DFEMS spokesman Derek Gersonde, Pua graduated from the second Fire Cycle in 1990 and became assistant fire chief in 2017.

Norita is expected to take on a new post. Saipan Tribune archives quote Gov. Ralph DLG Torres as saying that Norita will still be working with the administration in another capacity.

Norita is a former law enforcer who rose through the ranks to become a police major. He was also a former House member during the 14th CNMI Legislature, was appointed as Criminal Justice Planning Agency executive director, and DPS special assistant before being assigned to head the Commonwealth Ports Authority.