The Moorpark City Council is proud to announce its unanimous decision to promote PJ Gagajena to serve as Moorpark’s next City Manager, effective June 28, 2025. Gagajena, who has served as Moorpark’s Assistant City Manager since 2020, will succeed City Manager Troy Brown, who has served as Moorpark’s City Manager since 2018 and last year announced his plans to retire in June 2025.
The announcement follows a nationwide search led by Mosaic Public Partners, a firm that specializes in public sector executive recruitments. Gagajena emerged as the top candidate among a strong pool of 23 applicants for the position.
Gagajena’s 25 years of local government experience spans many facets of municipal operations, including economic development, budget and finance, human resources, performance management, city planning, sustainability, and community relations. For the past five years, Gagajena has served as Moorpark’s Assistant City Manager for the past five years, while overseeing the City Clerk’s Office, Human Resources Division, and Public Information and Legislative Affairs Division, implemented cost-saving and revenue-generating measures as Interim Finance Director and City Treasurer, instituted employee engagement initiatives to transform work culture, advanced new mental health services and programs, and guided staff and the community through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to joining Moorpark, Gagajena served as Administrative Services Manager and Economic Development Manager for the City of Indio, playing a significant role in revitalizing its downtown and performing arts center, and attracting major business and tourism investments. He has also previously worked for the Cities of Los Angeles, New York, and Torrance. Additionally, Gagajena taught political science for nearly a decade as an Adjunct Professor at El Camino College in Torrance and currently teaches local economic development as an Adjunct Professor at California Lutheran University and serves on the Advisory Council for the university’s Master of Public Policy and Administration program.
“I’m incredibly honored and blessed by the City Council’s trust and support. Having the privilege to serve this City Council, who are some of the best public servants I’ve ever worked for, made my decision easy to apply for and accept this role,” said Gagajena. “Serving Moorpark has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career, and I’m excited to continue working alongside our talented team and engaged community to build on our progress and shape a vibrant future for our city.”
Gagajena has master’s degrees in public policy and urban planning from Harvard University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in political science from UCLA. He is also a graduate of USC’s Ross Program in Real Estate, serves as President of the International Network of Asian Public Administrators (I-NAPA), and is an active member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the world’s leading association for local government professionals.
Gagajena was also one of the first individuals in the state to be recognized as an Accredited California Economic Developer by the California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED), California’s leading professional association for economic development professionals. Gagajena now serves on the Board of Directors for CALED, where he chairs the Project Development and Finance Division. More locally, Gagajena is a former Board Member of the Municipal Management Association of Southern California (MMASC) Channel Islands Region, a graduate of the Ventura County Leadership Academy, and a member of Moorpark’s Morning Rotary Club.
“We’ve come a long way as a city in Troy Brown’s seven years as City manager, and we’re excited to keep that momentum going with an internal hire,” said Moorpark Mayor Chris Enegren. “PJ has done an outstanding job serving as Moorpark’s Assistant City Manager, and I’m confident that he will rise to the occasion and keep Moorpark on a path to success.”
As City Manager, Gagajena will serve as Moorpark’s Chief Executive Officer, leading a staff of 62 full-time and 102 total employees and overseeing an annual budget of $81 million. Gagajena assumes leadership at a dynamic moment in the City’s evolution as Moorpark experiences significant residential and business growth, including the City’s first mixed-use development project to be completed this summer and that is poised to revitalize Moorpark’s downtown.
“As a city management professional, one knows that when the values and goals of the council, community, and staff are in alignment, that’s when cities flourish—and Moorpark is a shining example of that synergy,” said Gagajena. “I’m excited to build on the foundation established by the City Council and continue to implement their vision of Moorpark as one of California’s safest cities, with a thriving, business-friendly environment that prioritizes quality of life while preserving the small-town charm that makes it so special.”