Juan Babauta | |
---|---|
Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands | |
In office January 14, 2002 – January 9, 2006 |
|
Lieutenant | Diego Benavente |
Preceded by | Pedro Tenorio |
Succeeded by | Benigno Fitial |
Resident Representative of the Northern Mariana Islands | |
In office January 1990 – January 14, 2002 |
|
Preceded by | Froilan Tenorio |
Succeeded by | Pedro Tenorio |
Personal details | |
Born |
Juan Nekai Babauta September 7, 1953 Tanapag, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Charlene Mendiola Tudela (2008–present) |
Alma mater |
Eastern New Mexico University (BA, MA) University of Cincinnati (MS) |
Juan Nekai Babauta (born September 7, 1953) is a Northern Mariana Islander politician. Babauta served as the sixth elected Governor of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for one term from January 14, 2002 to January 9, 2006.
Juan Babauta was born in Tanapag, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on September 7, 1953. He is the oldest of his family's nine children. Babauta completed elementary school on Saipan. His parents then sent him to the mainland United States to continue his education. Babuata moved to Enosburg Falls, Vermont where he attended Enosburg Falls High School while living on a dairy farm with a host family for three years. Babauta, who was student body president during his senior year and a member of the National Honors Society, graduated from Enosburg in 1972.
Babauta attended a summer session at Johnson State College of Vermont in 1976. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in American history and political science from Eastern New Mexico University in 1976 and a Master of Arts in political science from ENMU that same year. In 1979, Babauta completed a Master of Science degree in health planning and administration from the University of Cincinnati.
Babauta's interest in health planning began when he worked as a health planner for the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands from April to August 1977, based on Saipan. He became the executive director for the Commonwealth Health Planning and Development Agency in May 1979 after completing his master's degree at the University of Cincinnati. He remained executive director until January 1986.