About Town Redondo: Obagi trial delay, city I.T., Northrop Grumman missile defense

Zein Obagi, Jr. represents the Fourth District of Redondo Beach on the city council. He is also an attorney based in Los Angeles.

Obagi State Bar trial delayed once more

The State Bar trial for city councilman Zein Obagi, Jr., has been delayed while a challenge he filed with the Bar’s Review Department is considered. 

Obagi requests that the Department overturn a decision that the State Bar Hearing Department made about statement of facts – and how much of an earlier stipulation agreement is to be binding in a new hearing.

The Bar granted Obagi’s motion to wait for the Review Department ruling before setting new trial dates. 

The trial had been scheduled to resume May 16, after a previous delay.

The case against Obagi stems from a financial dealing with a former client, and a subsequent malpractice suit Obagi filed against his original attorney for the first seven State Bar counts (2021).

Last December, the Bar added five new charges regarding the malpractice suit. 

 

New I.T. director for city

When computers go down, Redondo Beach will have a new man to call.

City Manager Mike Witzansky appointed a new city Information Technology Director May 12. 

Michael Cook has 15 years’ experience leading public-sector cybersecurity and technology programs, including work at San Jose State University, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (his alma mater) and the Santa Clara Valley Water District. 

“Mr. Cook is a demonstrated leader in the IT field and we are excited to welcome him to Redondo Beach,” said Witzansky. “Mike brings energy, enthusiasm for his work, and a creative, solution-oriented mindset that will allow him to effectively lead the IT Department, protect critical infrastructure systems, and integrate new technologies that will ultimately enhance the delivery of City services.”

Cook has a B.S. in Computer Science and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration/Information Technology Leadership from Cal State Dominguez Hills. 

 

Northrop Grumman progresses on missile defense system

Northrop Grumman has finished a preliminary design review for a U.S. Space Force program to create a national early-warning missile system in defense of the country. 

The May 24 announcement of the completed review establishes Northrop Grumman’s technical approach to integrate a spacecraft (Eagle 3) with sensor and communication payloads being developed at Northrop Grumman’s Azusa, Calif. site.

“Northrop Grumman is on an accelerated path to delivering an early-warning missile system capable of surviving attacks from space, ground or cyber elements,” said Alex Fax, vice president of Northrop Grumman’s Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared Polar program (NGP). 

“NGP satellites will maintain a direct line of communication back to the continental United States, limiting dependency on overseas ground station sites.”

The two satellites are designed to locate and track hypersonic and ballistic missiles over the Northern Hemisphere – particularly the Polar region.  Northrop Grumman technology is able to identify the heat signature of an incoming missile and send the data to U.S. command. ER

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