Another Prestigious Award For Lt. Gen. Michael Hamel

The Space and Missile Systems Center commander, Lt. Gen. Michael Hamel, has received the California State University Dominguez Hills Alumni of the Year Award. The presentation of the award occurred November 1st at the Inaugural College of Business Administration and Public Policy Awards Luncheon in Carson, California.




While a lieutenant in the Air Force, Hamel attended graduate school at California State University Dominguez Hills, earning his M.B.A. in 1974. His career includes assignments in a variety of command, acquisition, operations and policy positions involving space, system development, intelligence, space operations and launch. The general has served in senior staff positions at Headquarters U.S. Air Force and Air Force Space Command, and he was the Vice President’s military adviser on defense, nonproliferation and space policy. Prior to his current position, General Hamel commanded the 14th Air Force "Flying Tigers" and was responsible for all U.S. Air Force space forces and operations as well as the execution of assigned U.S. Strategic Command’s space operations. Under General Hamel’s leadership, SMC recently had its 53rd successful space launch in a row, a feat unparalleled in military space history. He serves not only as the center’s commander but also as the Air Force Program Executive Officer for space, leading more than 6,800 personnel and managing more than $60 billion in contracts. He also played a role in the creation of global positioning satellites and has overseen the advance of global missile warning systems—Los Angeles Air Force Base, El Segundo, California