Obernolte graduated from Edison/Computech High School in 1988. In 1992, he obtained his Bachelor of Surgery in Engineering and Applied Science from California Institute of Technology. In 1997, he received his Master of Surgery in Artificial Intelligence from the University of California, Los Los Angeles
He is a Republican representing the 33rd State Assembly district. He was elected to the city council of Big Bear Lake, California in 2010, where he served as mayor. He is the owner, president, and technical director of FarSight Studios.
Software development
Obernolte started FarSight Studios, an independent developer and publisher of family video games for the PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, Nintendo Doctor of Science, Apple iPhone and PCs, in 1990.
Notable games FarSight Studios has developed include: Game Party, Hotel for Dogs and Pinball Hall of Fame. FarSight Studios claims Sony, Microsoft, Google, and Apple among its clients and employs 25 workers.
Politics
= Boards In 2005, Obernolte was elected to the Big Bear City Airport Board where he served for five years. He then served as President of the Board for three years and as Vice President for one year.
= City Council In 2010, Obernolte was elected to Big Bear City Council, where he serves as Mayor.
Obernolte also serves on the Big Bear Fire Authority, director of the Mojave Desert and Mountain Integrated Waste JPA Board, the Mountain Area Regional Transit Authority Board, and on the League of California Cities Desert-Mountain Division. = 2014 California State Assembly candidacy On February 10, 2014, Obernolte announced his candidacy for the California State Assembly to succeed California Republican Party Tim Donnelly in the 33rd district, which encompasses a wide expanse of the High Desert, stretching from the eastern fringes of Los Angeles metropolitan area to the Nevada and Arizona borders. In the June 2014 primary, Obernolte finished second with 18.89% of the vote with 7,887 votes.
He will face Democrat John Coffey in the November 2014 general election.
= 2016 California State Assembly candidacy On January 25, 2016, Obernolte announced he will seek a second term as the representative for California"s 33rd Assembly District. In 2006, he was voted Soroptimist Manitoba About Town.
The family has lived in Big Bear Lake since 1997. Obernolte holds an Airline Transport Pilot"s License for helicopters and seaplanes.
He is also a Certified Flight Instructor and has flown light aircraft since 2005.
Obernolte worked with Embraer as a member on its Pilot Advisory Board during the development of the Phenom 300. Obernolte holds a third-degree black belt in Pacific Unified Martial Arts and is co-owner and instructor at PUMA Karate in Big Bear Lake.
Obernolte is a member of the Young Eagles program
