Joachim Cox has been appointed to the role of trustee emeritus and Iven Sugai joins the board of trustees as its newest member.
HPU has selected HPU alumnus Iven T. Sugai ‘01 as its newest member of the board of trustees. HPU honors Joachim P. Cox by appointing him to the esteemed role of trustee emeritus.
Cox, a founding partner of the Honolulu law firm Cox Fricke LLP, joined the board of trustees in 2011 and was instrumental in guiding HPU through significant milestones. As chairman of the board of trustees from 2014 to 2017, he spearheaded several major initiatives, including the creation of the campus master plan, which led to HPU’s centralized downtown campus, and the development of Aloha Tower Marketplace, the hub of student life at the University.
Joachim P. Cox.
"I am excited about the opportunities ahead in this next phase of development for the University," Cox said. "The HPU Board is a dynamic and collegial group of individuals committed to the success of HPU and, most importantly, its students. I am tremendously honored to have served as chairman and to look forward to supporting HPU as a trustee emeritus."
Sugai joins the HPU board with over 20 years of leadership experience in large global organizations. His distinguished military career includes serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, with notable assignments to the White House, Congress, and as a Battalion Commander. Currently, Sugai is a global portfolio manager at Meta, where he oversees the operations and engineering portfolio for data centers that support Meta’s family of applications, including Meta AI, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Quest, and Threads.
"I am deeply honored to join the HPU board of trustees and look forward to contributing to the University’s growth and success,” said Sugai. "Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, HPU has a special place in my heart, and I am excited to give back to the community and the institution that played a pivotal role in my personal and professional growth. I look forward to helping solidify HPU's position as a leader in education within Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region, fostering an environment where students can thrive and achieve their full potential."
Iven T. Sugai.
Sugai’s career is characterized by his dedication to collaboration, coaching, and leadership development, as well as building global partnerships. He excels in the development and execution of strategy, resolving complex issues, improving processes, and effectively communicating key objectives and results to stakeholders at all levels. As a veteran and military spouse, Sugai upholds values of integrity, professionalism, and excellence, striving to empower others to reach their highest potential.
At Meta, Sugai has successfully managed a global portfolio and serves as Chief of Staff for an operations and engineering executive. Prior to his role at Meta, he made key contributions to Google’s Data Center Operations, advised on change management and critical security projects, and led a global team integrating complex systems into Combatant Commands at the Missile Defense Agency. His military career includes significant leadership roles, such as Battalion Commander for the military’s oldest continuously serving unit on active duty, senior portfolio manager for defense legislation in the White House Office of Management and Budget, and various strategic roles within defense.
Sugai holds an MBA from Webster University, a Master’s Degree in International Security and Conflict Studies from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and a Bachelor’s degree in economics from HPU. Additionally, he has earned postgraduate certificates in cloud computing and senior management education in operational and strategic leadership, and other professional certifications.
