Tafaimamao "Tafa" Tua-Tupuola is the State Director of the newly branded American Samoa - Pacific Center in Human Security (PCHS), formerly the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD).  Ms. Tafa is a Samoan/Pacific Islander who established her professional career of 32 years within the PCHS in emergency preparedness/management, special education policy, health policy, and employment.  

In the federal space, her two-year engagement in the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Disability Advisory Council led to in-depth discussions on systemic policies on accessible emergency communication for the Pacific Territories, leading to two years on the FEMA Integrated Public Alert Warning System (IPAWS) subcommittee, contributing to the Modernizing the Nation's Public Alert and Warning System 2019 report from the FEMA National Advisory Council.  In January 2023, Tafa pledged an oath to serve on the FEMA National Advisory Council (NAC) to contribute meaningful dialogue and perspective through recommendations to the FEMA Administrator.  By 2024, she accepted to chair the Gendered-Based Violence subcommittee, part of the White House National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence under Pillar 6 Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Response, working side-by-side with NAC members, subject matter experts, FEMA Office of Equal Rights, and U.S. Department of Justice team.

In the Pacific Region, she co-chairs the Health Security Hui of the Pacific Risk Management 'Ohana (PRiMO), covering various topics from outbreaks to mental health.  When regional systemic issues in the developmental disability (DD) impact the Pacific Territories, Tafa coordinates the discussions with the Pacific DD partners on health policies, post-disaster housing, and inclusive emergency preparedness. 

Tafa is a long-time American Samoa Community College employee, formerly serving on several curriculum and Faculty Senate committees.  She rebranded the UCEDD to reimagine who 'we are' as Pacific Islanders and what 'we do' to achieve the now Pacific Center in Human Security mission.  She co-leads the West-Pac Consortium, a special interest group of the FEMA Higher Education Symposium that includes Region 8 and 9 colleges and universities.

Tafa is an alumna of the American Samoa Community College, AUCD Leadership Academy, and the Center for Homeland Defense and Security Leadership initiatives.  Her passion for community service and church upholds her values and accountability to the people of American Samoa and the Pacific Island.