Los Angeles Air Force Base

Branch: U.S. Air Force (Space Force tenant commands also present)
Location: El Segundo, California
Installation Type: Air Force Base
Status: Active

Overview

Los Angeles Air Force Base is located in El Segundo, California, immediately south of Los Angeles International Airport in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County. Established in 1961, it is a non-traditional installation without a runway — functioning primarily as a headquarters and program management facility rather than a flying base. It is the headquarters of Space Systems Command (SSC), the organization responsible for acquiring, developing, and sustaining space systems for the U.S. Space Force and the broader Department of Defense.

Mission & Units

Primary Mission: Space systems acquisition, development, and sustainment — overseeing satellite programs, launch systems, and space-based capabilities for national defense.
Major Units:
Space Systems Command (SSC) — primary tenant and mission organization
61st Air Base Wing (host wing, provides installation support)
61st Mission Support Group
Space and Missile Systems Center (historical predecessor, reorganized into SSC in 2021)
Various program executive offices and program offices managing GPS, missile warning, protected communications, and other space systems
Tenant Units: Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA); various defense contractor liaison offices; Aerospace Corporation (federally funded R&D center); The Rand Corporation; numerous defense industry partners

Location & Access

Nearest Major City: Los Angeles, CA (approximately 14 miles north); El Segundo is a suburban city in the South Bay area
Nearest Commercial Airport: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), approximately 1 mile north — one of the busiest airports in the world and immediately adjacent to the installation
Gate Access: The installation has limited gate access points. CAC holders access via standard military ID. Non-CAC visitors must coordinate with the Visitor Control Center (VCC) at the 61st Security Forces Squadron during normal duty hours. Real ID-compliant identification required. Due to the urban/suburban setting and non-traditional layout, access procedures differ from typical AFB installations — contact the installation directly for current visitor pass procedures.

Population

Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 1,000 to 2,000 (military, including Space Force Guardians)
Family Members: Not publicly available — personnel largely reside off-base throughout the Los Angeles metro area
Civilian Employees: Approximately 4,000 to 6,000 (DoD civilians and contractor personnel on installation)
Total Installation Population: Approximately 10,000 or more when including contractors and partner organizations

Key Facilities

Medical: 61st Medical Squadron — provides limited outpatient primary care and occupational health; major medical needs referred to David Grant USAF Medical Center at Travis AFB or local civilian network; Tricare network providers are widely available throughout Los Angeles
Commissary: Yes — commissary available on the installation; smaller than typical large-base commissaries due to limited space
Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Yes — Base Exchange (BX) available; compact facility given the urban setting
Fitness & Recreation: Fitness center on base; limited recreation facilities compared to larger flying bases; MWR programs leverage local Southern California attractions and off-base recreation options
Schools: Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and surrounding South Bay school districts serve military dependents; no DoDEA school; Torrance, El Segundo, and Manhattan Beach school districts are among the highest-rated in the region
Childcare: Child Development Center services are limited given the installation’s non-traditional layout; personnel rely heavily on off-base childcare providers; contact the 61st Force Support Squadron for current CDC availability and waiting list status
Veterinary Services: Veterinary Treatment Facility — limited services; contact the 61st Mission Support Group for current veterinary service availability; civilian veterinarians are widely available in the Los Angeles area
Legal Assistance / JAG: Staff Judge Advocate office on base — legal assistance available by appointment; contact the 61st Air Base Wing legal office

Housing

On-Base Housing: Very limited to no traditional on-base family housing given the installation’s small footprint in an urban area; some dormitory space available for unaccompanied personnel
Average Wait Time: Not applicable for family housing — virtually all personnel reside off-base
Off-Base Housing: El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Hawthorne, Torrance, Redondo Beach, and other South Bay communities are popular; housing costs are extremely high — average rent for a 3-bedroom home ranges from approximately $3,000 to $5,000+ per month (2024 estimates); home purchase prices in the area commonly exceed $1 million
BAH Rate Reference: Check current BAH rates at the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) website. Note: Los Angeles BAH rates are among the highest in the nation to offset the extremely high local cost of living.

PCS & Newcomer Info

Sponsorship Program: Sponsors assigned through gaining unit or program office; contact your gaining unit upon receipt of orders to request a sponsor
In-Processing: Report to the 61st Air Base Wing Military Personnel Flight; in-processing procedures will include briefings on the unique urban environment and off-base housing market; timeline typically 3 to 5 business days
EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Managed through the 61st Medical Squadron EFMP office; Los Angeles offers extensive civilian medical specialist networks for EFMP enrollees; contact EFMP coordinator prior to PCS for enrollment and local resource identification

Local Area & Quality of Life

Climate: Mediterranean — mild year-round with warm dry summers and mild wet winters; temperatures rarely extreme; near-constant sunshine; coastal influence keeps temperatures moderate
Cost of Living: Very high relative to national average — among the most expensive metros in the United States; housing is the primary driver of high costs; BAH partially offsets but may not fully cover market rents
Nearby Attractions: Manhattan Beach (walking, dining, beach); Santa Monica Pier and Promenade; Venice Beach Boardwalk; Griffith Observatory; Getty Center; Disneyland (approximately 35 miles); numerous professional sports teams (Lakers, Rams, Dodgers, etc.)
Spouse Employment: Strong and diverse job market across the Los Angeles metro area in entertainment, aerospace and defense, healthcare, technology, and hospitality; some of the broadest employment opportunities in the country, though competition is high

Contact & Resources

Official Website: https://www.losangeles.spaceforce.mil/ (Space Systems Command); https://www.losangeles.af.mil/ (61st Air Base Wing)
Main Installation Phone: (310) 363-1110
MWR Website: Not publicly available — contact 61st Force Support Squadron for current MWR program information
ACS / Fleet & Family / Airman & Family Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center (A&FRC), 61st Force Support Squadron — contact via main installation directory at (310) 363-1110 (verify current A&FRC number upon arrival)

Last updated: 2026-02-22
Sources: Training knowledge base; https://www.losangeles.spaceforce.mil/; https://www.losangeles.af.mil/; DTMO BAH reference, Joseph L. Jordan, Attorney at Law