Lt. Gen. John "Tom" Sheridan, Space and Missile Systems Center commander, speaks to mayors and community leaders at the Honorary Commander Induction Ceremony April 26 in the Gordon Conference Center. The Honorary Commanders are part of the Los Angeles Air Force Base Support Team whose purpose is to identify common areas of interest between the civilian and military communities, assist in promoting community understanding, support the Los Angeles AFB mission and host social events and sponsor entertainment that enhance the morale, camaraderie and espirit de corps of Los Angeles AFB personnel and their families. (Photo by Joe Juarez)

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Lt. Gen. John "Tom" Sheridan (left), Space and Missile Systems Center commander, presents an Honorary Commander certificate to Mr. Bill Fisher (center), City of El Segundo councilmember, while Mr. Jackie Tillery, 61st Air Base Wing director of staff, looks on at an induction ceremony April 26 in the Gordon Conference Center. Mr. Fisher accepted the certificate on behalf of Mr. Eric Busch, El Segundo mayor. El Segudo, 61 ABW's counterpart, is part of the Los Angeles Air Force Base Support Team whose purpose is to identify common areas of interest between the civilian and military communities, assist in promoting community understanding, support the Los Angeles AFB mission and host social events and sponsor entertainment that enhance the morale, camaraderie and espirit de corps of Los Angeles AFB personnel and their families. (Photo by Joe Juarez)

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Hawthorne

Lt. Gen. John "Tom" Sheridan (left), Space and Missile Systems Center commander, presents an Honorary Commander certificate to Mr. Larry Guidi (center), City of Hawthorne mayor, while Mr. John Wagner, Launch and Range Systems Wing chief technical director, looks on at an induction ceremony April 26 in the Gordon Conference Center. Hawthorne, LRSW's counterpart, is part of the Los Angeles Air Force Base Support Team whose purpose is to identify common areas of interest between the civilian and military communities, assist in promoting community understanding, support the Los Angeles AFB mission and host social events and sponsor entertainment that enhance the morale, camaraderie and espirit de corps of Los Angeles AFB personnel and their families. (Photo by Joe Juarez)

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Hawthorne

Lt. Gen. John "Tom" Sheridan (left), Space and Missile Systems Center commander, presents an Honorary Commander certificate to Mr. Michael DiVirgilio (center), City of Hermosa Beach mayor, while Col. Charles Helwig, Satellite Control and Network Systems Group commander, looks on at an induction ceremony April 26 in the Gordon Conference Center. Hermosa Beach, SCNG's counterpart, is part of the Los Angeles Air Force Base Support Team whose purpose is to identify common areas of interest between the civilian and military communities, assist in promoting community understanding, support the Los Angeles AFB mission and host social events and sponsor entertainment that enhance the morale, camaraderie and espirit de corps of Los Angeles AFB personnel and their families. (Photo by Joe Juarez)

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Lt. Gen. John "Tom" Sheridan (left), Space and Missile Systems Center commander, presents an Honorary Commander certificate to Mr. Mitch Ward (center), City of Manhattan Beach mayor, while Col. Roger Teague, Space Based Infrared Systems Wing commander, looks on at an induction ceremony April 26 in the Gordon Conference Center. Manhattan Beach, ISSW's counterpart, is part of the Los Angeles Air Force Base Support Team whose purpose is to identify common areas of interest between the civilian and military communities, assist in promoting community understanding, support the Los Angeles AFB mission and host social events and sponsor entertainment that enhance the morale, camaraderie and espirit de corps of Los Angeles AFB personnel and their families. (Photo by Joe Juarez)

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Hawthorne

Lt. Gen. John "Tom" Sheridan (left), Space and Missile Systems Center commander, presents an Honorary Commander certificate to Mr. Stefan Wolowicz (center), City of Rancho Palos Verdes mayor, while Col. Arnold Streland, Space Superiorty Systems Wing commander, looks on at an induction ceremony April 26 in the Gordon Conference Center. Rancho Palos Verdes, SYSW's counterpart, is part of the Los Angeles Air Force Base Support Team whose purpose is to identify common areas of interest between the civilian and military communities, assist in promoting community understanding, support the Los Angeles AFB mission and host social events and sponsor entertainment that enhance the morale, camaraderie and espirit de corps of Los Angeles AFB personnel and their families. (Photo by Joe Juarez)

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Redondo Beach

Lt. Gen. John "Tom" Sheridan (left), Space and Missile Systems Center commander, presents an Honorary Commander certificate to Mr. Mike Gin (center), City of Redondo Beach mayor, while Col. David Madden, Global Positioning Systems Wing commander, looks on at an induction ceremony April 26 in the Gordon Conference Center. Redondo Beach, GPSW's counterpart, is part of the Los Angeles Air Force Base Support Team whose purpose is to identify common areas of interest between the civilian and military communities, assist in promoting community understanding, support the Los Angeles AFB mission and host social events and sponsor entertainment that enhance the morale, camaraderie and espirit de corps of Los Angeles AFB personnel and their families. (Photo by Joe Juarez)

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Lt. Gen. John "Tom" Sheridan (left), Space and Missile Systems Center commander, presents an Honorary Commander certificate to Ms. Susan Rhilinger (center), City of Torrance councilmember, while Col. William Harding, Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing commander, looks on at an induction ceremony April 26 in the Gordon Conference Center. Ms. Rhilinger accepted the certificate on behalf of Mayor Frank Scotto. Torrance, MCSW's counterpart, is part of the Los Angeles Air Force Base Support Team whose purpose is to identify common areas of interest between the civilian and military communities, assist in promoting community understanding, support the Los Angeles AFB mission and host social events and sponsor entertainment that enhance the morale, camaraderie and espirit de corps of Los Angeles AFB personnel and their families. (Photo by Joe Juarez)

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SBACC

Lt. Gen. John "Tom" Sheridan (left), Space and Missile Systems Center commander, presents an Honorary Commander certificate to Mr. George Kivett (center), South bay Area Chambers of Commerce president, while Ms. Renee Rodeck, SMC director of staff, looks on at an induction ceremony April 26 in the Gordon Conference Center. SBACC, SMC/DS's counterpart, is part of the Los Angeles Air Force Base Support Team whose purpose is to identify common areas of interest between the civilian and military communities, assist in promoting community understanding, support the Los Angeles AFB mission and host social events and sponsor entertainment that enhance the morale, camaraderie and espirit de corps of Los Angeles AFB personnel and their families. (Photo by Joe Juarez)

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Lt. Gen. John "Tom" Sheridan (left), Space and Missile Systems Center commander, presents an Honorary Commander certificate to Col. David Raths (right), 61st Air Base Wing vice commander, at an induction ceremony April 26 in the Gordon Conference Center. Colonel Raths received the certificate on behalf of Ms. Helene Pizzini, mayor of San Pedro, 61 ABW's counterpart. San Pedro is part of the Los Angeles Air Force Base Support Team whose purpose is to identify common areas of interest between the civilian and military communities, assist in promoting community understanding, support the Los Angeles AFB mission and host social events and sponsor entertainment that enhance the morale, camaraderie and espirit de corps of Los Angeles AFB personnel and their families. (Photo by Joe Juarez)

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Inglewood

Lt. Gen. John "Tom" Sheridan (left), Space and Missile Systems Center commander, presents an Honorary Commander certificate to Col. Jay Morgan (right), Missile Defense Systems Group commander, at an induction ceremony April 26 in the Gordon Conference Center. Colonel Morgan received the certificate on behalf of Mr. Ralph Franklin, mayor pro tem of Inglewood, MDSG's counterpart. Inglewood is part of the Los Angeles Air Force Base Support Team whose purpose is to identify common areas of interest between the civilian and military communities, assist in promoting community understanding, support the Los Angeles AFB mission and host social events and sponsor entertainment that enhance the morale, camaraderie and espirit de corps of Los Angeles AFB personnel and their families. (Photo by Joe Juarez)

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Palos Verdes Estates

Lt. Gen. John "Tom" Sheridan (left), Space and Missile Systems Center commander, presents an Honorary Commander certificate to Mr. John Baldonado (right), Defense Meteorological Systems Group deputy director, at an induction ceremony April 26 in the Gordon Conference Center. Mr. Baldonado received the certificate on behalf of Ms. Rosemary Humphrey, mayor of Palos Verdes Estates, DMSG's counterpart. Palos Verdes Estates is part of the Los Angeles Air Force Base Support Team whose purpose is to identify common areas of interest between the civilian and military communities, assist in promoting community understanding, support the Los Angeles AFB mission and host social events and sponsor entertainment that enhance the morale, camaraderie and espirit de corps of Los Angeles AFB personnel and their families. (Photo by Joe Juarez)

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The newly-inducted Los Angeles Air Force Base Honorary Commanders and Space and Missile Systems Center's leadership sing the Air Force Song at the conclusion of the induction ceremony April 26 in the Gordon Conference Center. The Honorary Commanders are part of the Los Angeles Air Force Base Support Team whose purpose is to identify common areas of interest between the civilian and military communities, assist in promoting community understanding, support the Los Angeles AFB mission and host social events and sponsor entertainment that enhance the morale, camaraderie and espirit de corps of Los Angeles AFB personnel and their families. (Photo by Joe Juarez)

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Honorary Commanders inducted at Los Angeles Air Force Base

Published May 11, 2010
By Hien Q. Vu, Esq.
SMC/PA

Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. -- Eleven mayors and community leaders of Los Angeles Air Force Base's neighboring cities were inducted as Honorary Commanders April 26 here. Lt. Gen. John "Tom" Sheridan officiated the ceremony, which recognized the importance of the partnership between LAAFB and the South Bay community.

The Honorary Commanders included:
- El Segundo mayor Eric Busch, partnered with the 61st Air Base Wing
- San Pedro mayor Helene Pizzini partnered with the 61st Air Base Wing
- Hawthorne mayor Larry Guidi, partnered with the Launch and Range Systems Wing
- Manhattan Beach mayor Mitch Ward, partnered with the Space Based Infrared Systems Wing
- Rancho Palos Verdes mayor Stefan Wolowicz, partnered with the Space Superiority Systems Wing
- Redondo Beach mayor Mike Gin, partnered with the Global Positioning Systems Wing
- Torrance mayor Frank Scotto, partnered with the Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing
- Hermosa Beach mayor Michael DiVirgilio, partnered with the Satellite Control and Network Systems Group
- Palos Verdes Estates mayor Rosemary Humphrey, partnered with the Defense Meteorological Systems Group
- South Bay Area Chambers of Commerce president George Kivett, partnered with the Space and Missile Systems Center Directorate of Staff
- Inglewood mayor Pro Tem Ralph Franklin, partnered with the Missile Defense Systems Group

The Honorary Commanders' program was formed to maintain positive and productive relations between the South Bay community and Los Angeles Air Force Base. Its members are prominent and influential businesspersons, civic leaders, elected officials, private citizens, retired generals, officers and Senior Noncommissioned Officers in the Los Angeles area who are Air Force advocates and supporters of LAAFB.

Hawthorne

Hawthorne

Hawthorne

Redondo Beach

SBACC

Inglewood

Palos Verdes Estates