Congratulations APA President Elect, Leo Asuncion, Jr, AICP (MURP 1991)

Leo Asuncion, Jr is now the President Elect of the American Planning Association (APA). He is currently the Director - Region V of the Board of Directors of APA also an elected position. He has been an active member of APA since 1991 and AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) since 1994.

Throughout his planning career, Leo has served Hawaiʻi in many notable planning capacities. He was recently appointed Commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission by Governor David Ige. Previously he was the Director of the Office of Planning, State of Hawaii. His prior planning experience includes leadership roles with the State Coastal Zone Management Program, Hawaiian Electric Company, and SSFM International as well as planning roles with the Hawai`i State Judiciary and the Hawai`i Land Use Commission.

Leo has a high skill set and is a leader who believes in both the capabilities of staff and the value of the people he serves. As such, he has worked with and inspired colleagues in planning and fellow alumni and faculty of DURP. Another attribute that Leo demonstrates is vision. A quote from his APA President campaign form sums this up well.

It is important for all members to involve themselves in the APA. During my term, I will seek increased and diverse participation from the membership, allowing all o us to have a role in providing leadership in the development of the organization, advocating for planning excellence, promoting citizen empowerment, and providing members with the support needed to meet future challenges. By doing this, we collectively contribute towards achieving the APA’s mission of “Creating Great Communities for All.”

Congratulations on a stellar career!