Instructor

Senator Rory J. Respicio has extensive experience in both the legislative and executive branches of government. He served in the 27th through 33rd Guam Legislatures and held various legislative leadership positions including Majority Leader and Chairperson of the Committee on Rules, Federal, Foreign and Micronesian Affairs, Human and Natural Resources, Election Reform and Capitol District. His legislation has had a positive impact in many areas including raising the minimum wage on Guam, increasing teacher’s salaries, paying off Retirement debt of Guam Memorial Hospital, providing money to Mental Health for non-profit service providers and creating an economic recycling zone at the Port Authority of Guam.  

Prior to being elected senator, Respicio served as Director of the Department of Youth Affairs (DYA) where he managed a team of more than 100 individuals encompassing three divisions. He implemented successful programs, encouraging the positive development of adolescents: including prevention, incarceration and rehabilitation. These programs realized the integration of juvenile offenders with responsible young adults, creating one peer group, thereby building on the concept of Youth Helping Youth. DYA is credited under Respicio's watch for being named Department of the Year for three years.

Senator Respicio also served as Director of Community Affairs and Administrator of the Safe and Drug Free Schools Community Grant for Governor Carl T.C. Gutierrez and provided support for First Lady Geri Gutierrez’s community-based programs to include the People Helping People non-profit organization.

In January 2019, Respicio was appointed General Manager of the Port Authority of Guam under the administration of Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero and Lt. Governor Joshua F. Tenorio.  Bringing with him a wealth of knowledge in public administration and the management of public programs, he was ideal for the agency.  As the 21^st General Manager of the Port Authority of Guam, Respicio’s leadership took the agency’s finances from a $103 loss in FY 2018 to a net income of $3.5 million is just one year.  His foresight and discernment were instrumental in dealing with the COVID-19 global pandemic and keeping the Port 100% operational throughout the contagion, ensuring the safety of all employees, tenants and customers, and securing the flow of goods and supplies into the community.  Various initiatives and Port modernization projects have launched off, with more underway, especially with the Port Authority obtaining its Procurement Delegation in May 2020.

Volunteering in civic organizations has always been a focus for Senator Respicio as he serves as the National Committeeman and former State Party Chairman for the Democratic Party of Guam. He also served on the Hagåtña Restoration and Redevelopment Association Board of Commissioners, Commission on Decolonization Board, Guam First Commission, the Filipino Community of Guam Board of Trustees, the Mariana Islands Legislature Association and the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures Board of Directors. Senator Respicio is a 1991 Graduate of John F. Kennedy High School and later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Government and Politics, minor in English/Business and Management from University of Maryland University College. He is married to Fabrienne Cruz and the proud father of Rory J. Respicio Jr.