Tribal Administration
Office of the Governor
The Pueblo of San Felipe is a sovereign tribe with a traditional form of government which is recognized by the United States of America as well as the State of New Mexico. Being one of 19 Pueblos located in the State of New Mexico, the Pueblo of San Felipe is a member of the All Pueblo Council of Governors. Appointed on an annual basis, the Governor serves as the head of the tribal government along with the Lieutenant Governor. The Governor has the authority to oversee and carry out all secular duties and responsibilities of the Pueblo government. The Governor serves as executive officer of the Pueblo and is tasked at the executive of laws and orders enacted by the Tribal Council. The Office of the Governor has an administrative staff that fulfills the day-to-day operations of the tribal government and serve as intermediaries between the Governor’s office and with local, state and the federal government.
2026 Governors
Governor Mark Calabaza
Lt. Governor Thaddeus Garcia
San Felipe 2026 Tribal Administration
WarChief
Virgil Valencia
LT-WarChef
Gerald Ortiz
Governor
Mark Calabaza
LT-Governor
Thaddeus Garcia
Fiscale
Christopher Trancosa
LT-Fiscale
Calvin Valencia
Senior Tribal Administrator
Daryl Candelaria
Tribal Administrator
Quentin Candelaria
Administration
Tribal Administrators
The role of the Tribal Administrator is to assist the Governor and administration on carrying out
the daily operations of the tribal government. Duties include; management of departments,
programs, businesses and the fiscal affairs of the tribe.
Tribal Administrators:
Daryl Candelaria – Senior Tribal Administrator
Quentin Candelaria – Tribal Administrator
Finance Department
The Finance Department principally assists the Pueblo’s various departments, Gaming Regulatory, Tribal Administration and Tribal Council by planning, organizing, and directing the
Pueblo’s financial activities in conformance with all tribal, federal, state and local laws. The standards are set forth by the Government Accounting Standards Boards (GASB) and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). In carrying out the fiscal oversight of the tribal government, the department assists in the management of tribal funds as well as oversight of program funding. Services offered by the department include; accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, financial reporting, asset management, audit preparation and budgeting.
The department continues to drive the organization through success to deliver timely and accurate financial reporting and provide proper oversight of all expenditures and revenue collections in order to successfully support the operations of the Pueblo.
Roxanne Valencia – Interim Finance Director
Human Resources Department
Mission Statement
To empower the Pueblo of San Felipe through professional excellence and the spirit of Shruwanama Hoopah (Everyone All Together). We manage the employee journey—from recruitment to retirement—to ensure a safe, vibrant, and culturally rich workplace for our community.
Our Values
- Culture-First Growth: Developing talent that respects and reflects our tribal traditions.
- Collaborative Success: Partnering with leaders and supervisors to serve our families.
- Total Wellness: Providing robust benefits and a secure environment for every employee.
- Exemplary Service: Uplifting the community by supporting those who serve it.
HR Director
Nicholas Haywood
Assistant HR Director
Erika Sanchez
HR Coordinator
Candice Wells
HR Recruiter
Mariah Sandoval
Benefits Coordinator
Rosella James
Information Technology
The Department of Information Technology was officially established in 2009 by the Pueblo’s leadership. The IT department assists the Pueblo’s government, businesses and community with services such as network development and implementation, daily computer support, security implementation, maintaining network infrastructure, maintaining computer servers, providing WIFI internet service for the community and keeping up-to-date with new technology in order to provide the best IT services to the organization and community. The department continues to evolve as technology changes.
Careers
Working with San Felipe Pueblo is exciting, challenging and secure.
