Draft:Ginger Cruz

Ginger Crunden Cruz (b. 1965) is a businesswoman, politician, and former journalist. CEO of Mantid International, Cruz has previously served as Deputy Inspector General for Office of Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction and as Deputy Assistant Secretary United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. She is currently running as a Democrat to serve as Guam’s delegate to the House of Representatives in the 2024 primary election.

Early Life and Education
Ginger Cruz was born on Guam on July 14, 1965. Ginger is the daughter of a teacher at Finegayan Elementary School and a surveyor with the Guam Department of Public Works. She grew up in Liguan Terrace in Dededo. Cruz went to school at Harmon Loop Elementary in Dededo, St. Anthony Catholic School in Tamuning, and graduated from the Academy of Our Lady of Guam in 1982. After high school, Ginger Cruz moved to Philadelphia and attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations in 1986. Cruz went on to earn a Master of Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University in 2009.

Professional Life
While attending high school and college, Ginger worked on a seasonal basis at the Guam Legislature for Senator Franklin J. Gutierrez and Senator Pilar C. Lujan. After earning her degree, she returned to Guam to work in media and public relations for Guam Cable TV, the Bureau of Planning, and KUAM. Cruz served as Director of Communications under Governor Carl T.C. Gutierrez. After leaving the Office of the Governor of Guam, Ginger served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where she focused on expanding housing options for working families during the Clinton Administration. Cruz moved on to lead a management consulting firm based in Washington, D.C., MELE Associates, Inc., as Vice President. Ginger Cruz was selected to serve as Deputy Inspector General with the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) from 2004 to 2012. This position was the civilian equivalent of a two-star general. Cruz founded and has served as Chief Executive Officer of Mantid International, a global consulting firm from 2012. Mantid is an award-winning Woman-Owned Small Business and is ITAR and TRACE certified. Ginger returned to Guam in 2019 where she expanded her work to focus on Guam’s role in global defense and the impacts that role has on our people and businesses.

Ginger Cruz for Congress
Ginger Cruz is a Democratic candidate to serve as Guam’s delegate to the House of Representatives in the 2024 primary election.

Boards and Affiliations
University Of Pennsylvania Alumni Ambassadors Committee, 1990 To Present Member, Council on Foreign Relations, 2012 To Present Advisory Board Member, International Stability Operations Association, 2017 to Present Armed Forces Committee Member, Guam Chamber of Commerce, 2023 to Present Guam Post Member, Society of American Military Engineers, 2023 to Present Safe Ports Board of Advisors, 2023 to Present Member, Radio and Television News Directors Association (RTNDA), 1992 to 1996