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El Segundo has been the proud home of the Los Angeles Air Force Base for nearly 50 years and the hub of the region's aerospace industry and extraordinary intellectual capital.
Described as the "economic engine of the South Bay", the base was recently in jeopardy of being closed down by Congress' Base Relocation and Closure committee because of outdated facilities.
Thanks to a strong regional effort led by the City of El Segundo and an innovative agreement between the military and a private developer, modernization of the base was able to proceed and thus avert potential closure.
It is now set to remain in El Segundo for many years to come.
Construction of the Space and Missile Systems Center completed in 2006 and staff moved into the facilities earlier this year.
The base manages more than $8 billion in annual contracts and employs over 1,300 military personnel, while being indirectly responsible for more than 65,000 regional jobs.
It conducts research, development, acquisition and on-orbit testing of military space and missile systems.
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"I would like to extend my personal thanks to the City and its leadership for their consistent efforts to support the physical rebirth of SMC in brand new, state-of-the-art facilities.
The City was at the forefront of brokering our successful redevelopment deal at a time when many had given up all hope for the new facility."
-- Michael A. Hamel
Lieutenant General, USAF Commander
Los Angeles Air Force Base
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