Derrick Kualapai

On January 22, 2024, the United Association General Executive Board unanimously approved Administrative Assistant to the General President Derrick Kualapai to take over the role of UA General Secretary-Treasurer, effective April 1, 2024.

Brother Kualapai was unanimously elected to the position of International Representative at the 40th General Convention in August 2021. Just a few months later, on November 1, 2021, he was named an Administrative Assistant to the General President, where he worked on projects assigned by General President Mark McManus.

On July 1, 2019, Brother Kualapai was appointed to the position of International Representative. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Kualapai to join the state’s Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery.

Before serving as an International Representative, he was named the Special Representative for California and Hawaii on Sept. 17, 2018. In 2016, Brother Kualapai was elected Business Manager of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 342 in Oakland, CA. Before that, he was elected Assistant Business Manager in 2013 and Business Agent in 2012.

He served Local 342 as an Executive Board member of the California State Pipe Trades Council and as a Trustee of the Contra Costa County Building Trades Council. In addition, he was an Executive Board member of the California State Building and Construction Trades Council. Brother Kualapai has attended five UA General Conventions.

A member of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 342 for 30 years, Kualapai completed his apprenticeship as a steamfitter/welder. In 2000, he was elected Recording Secretary, and in 2007, he was elected Local 342 President.

Brother Kualapai worked in refineries and power plants for almost two decades. In 2006, he participated in the UA/EPRI Rigging Certification program and successfully completed this pilot course, which led him to establish a new rigging program in his home local. He later graduated from the Instructor Training Program in 2011.