Los Alamitos Base Commander Says Goodbye

In a small and simple ceremony, Brig. Gen. Keith Jones said goodbye Tuesday to the soldiers and community members he worked with as commander of the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base since 2009.

Jones has been transferred to Camp Roberts near Paso Robles.

“I will miss the Joint Forces Base. I will miss Southern California, but we have some work to do in central California to further improve the lives of the soldiers and to help them be the best they cane be,” said Jones. “ That is where the heart is. That is where the mission is.”

Although he commanded the base for less than two years, Jones had a big impact in the community through outreach efforts to work with residents and city officials to reduce the friction between the base and neighbors upset about the helicopter noise. Jones said he enjoyed working with the community, “even the ones who don’t much like helicopters, coyotes and gophers,” he added, referring to the three biggest complaint-getters at the base.

Having come to Los Alamitos from a mission in Kosovo where he was tasked with working with the mayors from nine divergent communities, Jones said he felt comfortable taking the reins at the base and working with representatives from the surrounding cities of Cypress, Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, Stanton and Garden Grove.

On Tuesday chamber of commerce and city officials from each of the cities and state and federal legislators issued certificates and plaques to Jones, thanking him for his work in the community.

“You have our gratitude for your dedication to the community,” said Seal Beach City Councilman. “I personally want to thank you for your years of service and sacrifice for the country.”