Benigno Fitial was elected as the State Chairman from the Northern Mariana Islands in November of 2011. He is the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. He graduated with honors from Mt. Carmel High School in 1964. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis on business management from the University of Guam, and has been recognized as a “Distinguished Alumni.”

During his tenure in the Northern Mariana Islands Legislature he served as Speaker of the House of Representatives (3rd, 12th, & 14th Legislatures), Vice Speaker (5th), Minority Leader (2nd & 4th), Chief Administrative Officer (1st) and Budget Officer (1st). Also, he worked for the government of the former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands as a budget analyst. He was the News Director for KJQR radio station.

Governor Fitial has been an executive of various companies. He has presided as President for the Bank of Saipan, Century Insurance Corporation, Century Travel Corporation, Consolidated Transportation Services Inc. (CTSI), Pacific Oriental Inc. (POI) and Home Improvement (MPI). He worked as a Vice President of Tan Holdings Corporation and as a special consultant for L&T Corporation.

Governor Fitial has made many political and civic contributions throughout his career. He founded the CNMI Covenant Party and served as Chairman for the CNMI zoning board, civil service commission and as a member of the CNMI tax task force. Other chairmanships include Chairman of the Northern Marianas Republican Party, Bush for President Committee for the CNMI, Saipan Municipal Scholarship Board, NMI Trusteeship Termination Task Force and for the Constitution Convention Committee on tax, public debt, education and local government. Governor Fitial was a member of the Republican Presidential Task Force and a delegate to the 1st Northern Marianas Constitutional Convention. He is married to Josie P. Fitial. They have six children and four grandchildren.