EXHIBIT 99.1



News Release


            CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER ROBERT RINGSTAD TO JOIN IMAGINET
                                 COMMUNICATIONS

     MINNEAPOLIS  (December  4,  2002)  -  APA  Optics  (Nasdaq/NM.APAT)  today
     announced  that  chief  financial  officer  Robert Ringstad has resigned to
     accept the chief financial officer position with ImagiNet Communications of
     Denver,  CO.

     APA  Optics,  Inc. manufactures and markets advanced products for the fiber
     optic communications, optoelectronics and laser industries, including Dense
     Wavelength Division Multiplexer (DWDM), ultraviolet (UV) detectors, Nitride
     epitaxial  layers  and  custom  optics.  APA's  Internet  address  is
     http://www.apaoptics.com.
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     APA Optics, Inc. Contact Information:
     -------------------------------------
     ANIL JAIN
     CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
     INFO@APAOPTICS.COM
     ------------------