Gov. David Ige announced Thursday the appointment of Leodoloff “Leo” R. Asuncion Jr. as chairman of the Public Utilities Commission. Asuncion has served on the PUC since April 2019.
Prior to joining the PUC, Asuncion served as a planning program administrator at the Office of Planning, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. He also served as director of the office from 2013 to 2018. In addition, Asuncion was planning program manager of the Hawaii Coastal Zone Management program from 2011-2013.
Asuncion has more than 30 years of experience in planning, policy analysis, and management throughout Hawaii and the Pacific Region, in both the public and private sectors. He has worked for Hawaiian Electric Company, SSFM International, the Hawaii State Judiciary, and served on the State Land Use Commission.
He earned a master’s degree in business administration from Hawaii Pacific University, a master’s degree in urban and regional planning and a BA in political science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Asuncion’s current term on the PUC began on today and ends on June 30, 2026.
PUC chairman James “Jay” Griffin announced in January that he would be stepping down at the end of his term, which expires today.