Air Force honors fallen comrade

Members of the Blue Eagles Honor Guard, a “total force honor guard” comprised of Air Force military members from Los Angeles and Edwards Air Force Bases and March Air Reserve Base, stand alongside Staff Sgt. Ho Tak “William” Leung’s cousins Krystal Chu, holding the photo, and Sofi Lam. Air Force photo by Joe Juarez.

Official U.S. Air Force photo

Official U.S. Air Force photo of Lt. Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski, commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.

laafb AOY AFSPC

Tech. Sgt. Nancy Connell (center), 61 MDOS, is selected as the 2009 Air Force Space Command’s Outstanding Non-Commissioned Officer during the AFSPC Outstanding Airmen of the Year competition at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., April 9. Gen. C. Robert Kehler (left), AFSPC commander, and Chief Master Sergeant Todd Small presented the award. Tech. Sgt. Connell will now advance to compete against MAJCOMS winners for the AF Outstanding Airmen of the Year. Other members representing SMC at the AFSPC level competition in other categories were: CGO – Capt. Nicholas Feranec, GPSW; First Shirt – Master Sgt. Tom Martin, 61 MSG; SNCO – Senior Master Sgt. Tony Frazier, 61 SFS; and Airman – Staff Sgt. Veronica Ahumada, 61 MDOS. (Photo by Tech. Sgt, Matthew Lohr, AFSPC/PAC)

laafb Latin greetings 2009

Motorists get a pleasant surprise from Col. Anita Latin (right), 61st Air Base Wing commander, as they drove into work early morning, Dec. 17. Colonel Latin greeted everyone at the front gate with a smile, a candy cane and copy of the Los Angeles Air Force Base Holiday Bulletin. (Photo by Lou Hernandez)

laafb tree lighting 2009

Santa makes his holiday debut during the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony held at Fort McArthur in San Pedro, Calif., Dec. 4. Other festivities included snow day with children's play area covered with more than 20 tons of man-made snow, two 50-ft. sled runs and a holiday story reading by Col. Anita Latin, 61st Air Base Wing commander. (Photo by Atiba S. Copeland)

laafb tree lighting 2009

Children play in the snow during the Los Angeles Air Force Base Snow Day held at Fort McArthur, Dec. 4. More than 20 tons of man-made snow covered the children’s play area and was part of the festivities surrounding the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony during the evening. Other festivities included a visit from Santa, two 50-ft. sled runs and a holiday story reading by Col. Anita Latin, 61st Air Base Wing commander. (Photo by Atiba S. Copeland)

laafb tree lighting 2009

Fort McArthur’s holiday tree illuminates the night during the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, Dec. 4. Other festivities included a visit from Santa, snow day with children's play area covered with more than 20 tons of man-made snow, two 50-ft. sled runs and a holiday story reading by Col. Anita Latin, 61st Air Base Wing commander. (Photo by Atiba S. Copeland)

laafb tree lighting 2009

Col. Anita Latin, 61st Air Base Wing commander, with help from some children, switch on the lights to Fort McArthur’s Christmas tree during the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, Dec. 4. Other festivities included a visit from Santa, snow day with children's play area covered with more than 20 tons of man-made snow, two 50-ft. sled runs and a holiday story reading by Colonel Latin. (Photo by Atiba S. Copeland)

laafb motorcycle awareness

A participant sits immersed in an interactive motorcycle simulator created by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, Nov. 9. Los Angeles Air Force Base sponsored the 2009 Motorcycle Safety Awareness Day which included vendors, a stunt show and other attractions. (Photo by Lou Hernandez)

laafb motorcycle awareness

Los Angeles AFB Space and Missile Systems Center held a Motorcycle Awareness Day, Nov. 9. Many motorcycle enthusiasts from the base came out to enjoy and learn. (Photo by Lou Hernandez)

Shackelford

Lt. Gen. Mark Shackelford, Military Deputy for the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), addresses Space and Missile Systems Center personnel about the rebuilding of acquisition excellence during his brief visit to Los Angeles Air Force Base last week. (Photo by Atiba Copeland)

Blue Falcon Exercise

A DoD policeman subdues a perpetrator during the Blue Falcon Exercise, July 13. (Photo by Joe Juarez)

MERCAT Exercise

A “victim” is taken through decontamination during the recent MERCAT exercise. (Photo by Joe Juarez)

MERCAT Exercise

Clinic personnel demonstrate their triage skills during the recent MERCAT exercise. (Photo by Joe Juarez)

MERCAT Exercise

Persons driving by Los Angeles Air Force Base on June 12 may have noticed fire trucks, ambulances and HAZMAT vehicles parked near the clinic. The vehicles weren’t responding to a real world disaster or attack. It was all part of a Medical Emergency Response Capability and Training (MERCAT) exercise involving Air Force personnel and local community first responders being held on base. Clinic personnel demonstrate their decontamination skills during the MERCAT exercise, June 9. (Photo by Lou Hernandez)

Career Fair

Potential job seekers line up to submit their resumes at the SMC career fair, June 8. Held at the Manhattan Beach Marriott, the event drew both current LAAFB employees and applicants new to the government. (Photo by Joe Juarez)

2009 Torrance Armed Forces Day

Approximately 100 airmen from Los Angeles, March and Edwards Air Force Bases marched in this year’s parade. (Photo by Joe Juarez)

Promotion KUDOS

Recent master sergeant selectees celebrated their promotion at the LAAFB Club, May 14. Pictured, right to left with SMC Commander, Lt. Gen Tom Sheridan, are technical sergeants Rhonda Phillips, Marc Person, Jacob Sturgeon, Edward Moore, Edward Martinez and David Moore. (Photo by Joe Juarez)

LAAFB Financial Roadshow

John Sileo speaks to audience members about how to protect themselves from ID theft during the Los Angeles AFB Financial Roadshow held at the Gordon Conference Center, Feb. 26. Mr. Sileo was one of the keynote speakers and financial experts during the all-day event. (Photo by Atiba S. Copeland)

LAAFB Coach

Rudy Tomjanovich (in blue sweater), former NBA champion, gold medal head coach of the Houston Rockets and the Men’s Basketball team for the 2000 Olympics, and former head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, watches as team MCSW compete in an intramural basketball game, Feb. 12. Brig. Gen. Samuel Greaves (second from right), Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing commander, and Col. Arnold Streland (right), MILSATCOM Wing TSAT Space Group commander, also enjoy the game. Coach Tomjanovich visited the Space and Missile Center to support the troops as an invitation from his personal friend, Tom Meseroll, MILSATCOM Chief Engineer’s Office senior contractor. He stayed to watch team MCSW play its Intramural Basketball league game at the base gymnasium. (Photo by Stephen Schester) (released)

LAAFB Coach

Rudy Tomjanovich (left), former NBA champion, gold medal head coach of the Houston Rockets and the Men’s Basketball team for the 2000 Olympics, and former head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, autographs a Houston Rockets jersey for 1st Lt. Erik Torguson, Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing, before the intramural basketball game for the MILSATCOM Wing team, Feb. 12. Brig. Gen. Samuel Greaves (back, left), MILSATCOM Wing commander, and Col. Arnold Streland, MILSATCOM Wing TSAT Space Group commander, look on. Coach Tomjanovich visited the Space and Missile Center to support the troops as an invitation from his personal friend, Tom Meseroll, MILSATCOM Chief Engineer’s Office senior contractor. He stayed to watch team MCSW play its Intramural Basketball league game at the base gymnasium. (Photo by Stephen Schester) (released)

LAAFB 2009 Prayer

Col. Anita Latin, Los Angeles AFB Air Base Wing commander, presents keynote speaker Ms. Renée Bondi with a bouquet during her closing remarks at the 2009 National Prayer Breakfast held at the Gordon Conference Center, Feb. 11. Ms. Bondi shared her life’s story and her faith in God in an upbeat and inspiring speech to a crowd of more than 230 attendees. (Photo by Stephen Schester)

LAAFB 2009 Prayer

Airman Tracy Sims from the Chaplain’s Office reads the “Prayer for Our Troops” on behalf of the Protestant faith as representatives from other faiths wait to read their prayers. The 2009 National Prayer Breakfast was held at the Gordon Conference Center, Los Angeles AFB, Feb. 11. (Photo by Stephen Schester)

LAAFB 2009 Prayer

Reverend Martin Benzoni, Los Angeles AFB Auxiliary Catholic Priest, listens as keynote speaker Ms. Renée Bondi tells the audience of her amazing story of faith. Father Benzoni, a long-time friend of Ms. Bondi, met her 20 years ago while they were both involved in a program working with teenagers in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (Photo by Stephen Schester)