Leadership Team

Alexander Nguyen was appointed City Manager by the Oxnard City Council in July 2018, bringing 20 years of municipal experience gained in California cities such as Oakland, Alameda, and Riverside. His administration has achieved significant milestones including clearing Oxnard’s financial audit issues, building a new 110-bed homeless solutions center and affordable housing in downtown, and securing $25M in funds for dismantling the Ormond Beach Power Plant.

Appointed Assistant City Manager in 2018, Ashley Golden has worked for the Oxnard community since 2006. During her time with the City, she has served as an Interim Assistant City Manager, Development Services Director, and Interim Economic Development Director. She is widely regarded for her success in strategic planning, permit processing, budgeting, and organizational efficiency from her years of experience and management of the Community Development department.

Eric Sonstegard rejoined the City of Oxnard team in 2025 after a distinguished 34-year career in law enforcement. After retiring as an Assistant Police Chief after twenty-six (26) years with the Oxnard Police Department, Eric accepted a position as the Chief of Police in Edgewater, Colorado. He was presented with an opportunity to come back to the community that he’s loved for 3 decades and couldn’t pass it up. Eric brings with him proven leadership skills and a reputation for strong community ties. He is a powerful communicator with compassion as one of his core values. He will provide strategic oversight for the Finance, Human Resources, and Information Technology departments. He and his wife, Carrie, are looking forward to once again living in Oxnard.

Katie Casey joined the City in 2019 as the Communications Manager and was appointed Deputy City Manager in 2024. She successfully expanded Oxnard’s social media reach, launched the city’s new, modern website, and played a key role in the Emergency Operations Center during the pandemic and other local emergencies. Katie now oversees the Cultural and Community Services Department and the Communications and Public Outreach division. She will also lead the development of a modern disaster preparedness program to better serve the Oxnard community.

Stephen Fischer joined the Oxnard City Attorney’s Office in 2009. He was appointed City Attorney by the Oxnard City Council in April 2016. Stephen was previously an associate attorney at a large municipal law firm in Los Angeles, serving as Assistant and Acting City Attorney on a contract basis for several cities in Los Angeles County.

Javier Chagoyen-Lázaro was appointed CFO in June 2023. He brings a wealth of financial expertise in both the public and private sectors and plays a vital role in overseeing the finance department and ensuring the City’s fiscal sustainability.

Jeff Pengilley joined the City in 2000 as a Plan Check Engineer and has held various key positions related to engineering services and building regulations in Oxnard. He was appointed Community Development Director in September 2023.

Terrel Harrison was appointed director in May 2019. With an impressive 32-year career with the city, starting as a recreation leader, Terrel continues to grow and add recreational programs that serve the youth, adult, senior and special populations throughout Oxnard.

Alexander Hamilton started his career with the Oxnard Fire Department as a Firefighter in 2005. He was promoted to Fire Engineer in 2010, promoted to Fire Captain in 2012, Battalion Chief in 2016, Assistant Chief in 2017 and Fire Chief in 2021.

Appointed HR Director in 2016, Steven Naveau has assisted the City with various HR duties. With 16 years of management experience in the city of Fairfield and El Dorado and Solano counties, he ensures Oxnard meets the Council priorities of hiring staff to get the job done and investing in their training and development.

Appointed Director in September 2023, Rob Ruben brings more than 20 years of industry experience leading large-scale project implementations and overseeing diverse operational teams to modernizing Oxnard’s IT infrastructure.

Jason Benites joined the Oxnard Police Department in 1993, after graduating from the University of California at Los Angeles. His prior education includes attending the United States Naval Academy. He became Oxnard’s twenty-second Chief of Police on December 29, 2020.

Michael Wolfe was appointed Director of Public Works in October 2021, bringing over 27 years of engineering and public works experience at the federal, county and city level. He leads the department of over 500 employees with an annual budget of $290 million in addition to a $700 million five-year capital improvement program.