Space Command announces their nomination for the General Thomas D. White Trophy Published April 13, 2007 By 1st Lt. Angelic Dolan SMC Public Affairs 4/13/2007 - LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE -- Lt. Gen. Michael Hamel, commander of Space and Missile Systems Center, was nominated by Air Force Space Command for the 2007 General Thomas D. White Trophy for his contribution to the nation's progress in aerospace during the calendar year. During the 2006 calendar year, General Hamel guided the successful launch and deployment of the Global Positioning System, Defense Meteorological Satellite Program and Space Development and Test systems and achieved the milestone of 49 consecutive successful operational launches. SMC went through a significant reorganization led by General Hamel. The reorganization strengthened functional organizations by standing up six new systems wings, one new Air Base Wing and two new systems groups and moved the entire SMC workforce cross the street into the Schriever Space Complex, while maintaining the mission success. General Hamel's leadership in military space drove significant improvements in space system development and acquisition. Sponsored by the Air Force Association, the trophy was established in 1961 by the late Dr. Thomas W. McKnew, National Geographic Society, to encourage and inspire further conquests of space after the example set by General White. The trophy depicts a bronze male figure hurling a Saturn rocket into space with his right hand and holding a re-entry vehicle similar to the Dyna-Soar in his left hand. The trophy is on permanent display in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. The recipient selected for the award will be presented Nov.16 during Air Force Association's National Symposium on Space here.