The Commander of the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Lt. General Michael A. Hamel, will relinquish command of the Air Force acquisition center of excellence to Lt. General John T. “Tom” Sheridan. The ceremony will occur today starting at 10:00 a.m. at the Fort MacArthur parade ground in San Pedro, California. General Sheridan was formerly the Deputy Director of the National Reconnaissance Office. General Hamel will leave SMC after completing his fourth tour of duty at the center and will conclude his 36 years of stellar service to our country. There will be an F-16 Jet Fighter from the 445th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base conducting a low level flyover at around 3:10 p.m. as part of the retirement ceremony honors, as well as a battery of 15, 155-millimeter howitzers from Battery B 144, Field Artillery, California Army National Guard, firing a military salute between 3:50 and 4:10 p.m.
During his tenure as commander, General Hamel has been at the forefront in leading a “back to basics” approach to space acquisition. He has brought focus to the Center’s history as the birthplace of military space, the dedication of the Schriever Space Complex and statue of Bernard A. Schriever. General Schriever is considered the father of Air Force missile and space programs. In November 2007, General Hamel was presented with the Air Force Association’s 2007 General Thomas D. White USAF Space Trophy. The award is given in recognition of outstanding contribution to the nation’s progress in aerospace.
“As I prepare to close this chapter in my life I can begin to reflect upon the many, many friendships and professional relationships that have had such a profound effect on my career,” said General Hamel. “My thirty-six years of service has provided me with experiences and perspectives that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. I wish all the best to General Sheridan as the newest member to the SMC family and to all of the men and women at SMC both military and civilian. I’m certain you will help General Sheridan take SMC to new heights.” A retirement ceremony for Lt. Gen. Hamel and invited guests was held in the afternoon of May 16.
We at SatNews Publishers wish General Hamel and his family a supremely well-deserved retirement and thank him for his dedication to milsatcom, to ensuring the projects and missions are in place or on the development path to secure the safety of our country and allies. We also thank him for his “farewell” interview for MilsatMagazine, which will publish next week on the MilsatMagazine website.
