EXHIBIT 99.1



NEWS RELEASE



     CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DAVID PETERS TO JOIN EAU CLAIRE FIRM

      MINNEAPOLIS  (July 23, 2003) - APA Optics (Nasdaq/NM.APAT) today announced
      that  chief  financial  officer David Peters has resigned effective August
      8th to accept a position with a private holding company in Eau Claire, WI.

      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.
      ------------------------


      APA Optics, Inc. Contact Information:
      -------------------------------------

      ANIL JAIN
      CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
      INFO@APAOPTICS.COM
      ------------------


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