After Action Review
2026 Armed Forces Day
Executive Summary
• 64th Annual Armed Forces Day Celebration successfully conducted
• No major public safety incidents
• Event conducted during elevated international tensions and military operational commitments
• Multiple venue and programming changes implemented
• New attractions introduced, including:
• Torrance Police Foundation Kid Zone
• Military Exhibit Site Food Trucks
• Significant staffing and resource commitment required • Staff successfully adapted to changing operational conditions and delivered a safe and successful event
Event Components
• Armed Forces Day Parade
• VIP Grandstands
• Aircraft Flyovers
• Military Exhibit
• Torrance Police Foundation
Kid Zone
• Food Truck Activation
• 5K Run/Walk
• 5K Expo
• Western Museum of Flight
Dignitary Reception
• Military Banquet
• Transit Park & Ride Service
2025 Committee Direction
& 2026 Response
• Loss of DAFC exhibit site, increasing costs, declining military participation, sustainability concerns identified in 2025 • City Yard exhibit site established
• Revised 5K route developed
• Torrance Police Foundation Kid Zone added
• Food trucks added
• Transit Park & Ride implemented
• Relocated dignitary reception to Western Museum of Flight • Traditional parade maintained
Planning & Coordination
• Interdepartmental planning effort
• Military coordination
• Traffic management planning
• First year endorsed Traffic Engineering Plan
• Flyover coordination safety team with volunteer ATC support • Emergency preparedness planning
• Operational adjustments due to venue and programming
modifications
Staffing and Resource
Commitment
• Public Safety Operations Included:
• Incident Command Post
• Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
• Parade Route Security
• Military Exhibit Security
• VIP & Dignitary Protection
• Traffic Management
• Civil Unrest Contingency Planning
• Transit Park & Ride Operations
• Crowd Management
• Aircraft Flyover Coordination
• 5K Run/Walk Safety
• Military Equipment Escorts
Safety & Security
Operations
• Elevated security posture
• SWAT dignitary protection
• Vehicle mitigation measures
• Meridian barriers
• Military asset protection
• EOC coordination
• Civil unrest contingency planning
• Assisting agency support
• Outcome: No major public safety incidents
2026 AFD
Community Participation
• Parade Spectators: 4,800
• Military Exhibit @ City Yard
• 1550 Visitors over 3 days
• 5K Participants: 874
• Military Runners: 37
• Expo Booths: 42
• Expo Attendance:
Approximately 1,500
2026 AFD
Community Participation
• Transit Park & Ride Ridership: 1,106
Riders
• May 15: 92 riders
• May 16: 649 riders
• May 17: 365 riders
2026 AFD
Community Sponsorships
• 2019: $15545
• 2025: $11,825
• 2026: $16,000
• $10K "Gold Sponsor"
• Toyota Hydrogen Solutions
• 3 “Bronze Sponsors”
• Torrance Refining Company
• Antares
• FlightWave
• Torrance Police Foundation fully-funded AFD Kid Zone
Attendance Comparison
AFD Event 2024 2025 2026 25/26 %
Change
Parade 7400 5900 4800 -18.6%
Military
Parade Entries
25 20 16 -20%
Civilian Parade
Entries
22 27 22 -18.5%
VIP/Dignitary
Grandstands
___ 123
• 312 capacity
178
• 220 capacity
+44%
Flyover
Aircraft
14 18 24 +33%
Attendance Comparison
AFD Event 2025 2026 % Change
Exhibit Site ___ FRI: 500
SAT: 750
SUN: 300
TOTAL: 1550
USSF reported a
70.8% decrease at
their exhibit
5K Runners 957 874 -8.67%
5K Military
Participants
200+ 37 -80.11%
5K Expo Booths 49 42 -14.29%
5K Expo Estimated
Attendance
1700 1500 -11.76%
Armed Forces Day
Dignitary Banquet
138
• 220 capacity
124
• 180 capacity
-10.14%
Factors Influencing
Attendance
• Reduced military participation
• Military operational commitments
• Elevated international tensions
• Venue changes
• Different event footprint
• Attendance distributed across fewer events
• Different event configuration compared to prior years
Operational Successes
• Safe completion of all scheduled events
• Successful Military Exhibit relocation to City Yard
• Successful Kid Zone implementation
• Successful Transit Park & Ride implementation
• 1,106 riders utilized the service during the event weekend • Provided alternative transportation between major event venues
• Successful Western Museum of Flight Dignitary Reception • Effective regional partnerships
• Strong interdepartmental coordination
• Positive public feedback
Challenges and
Lessons Learned
• Reduced military participation
• Attendance declines
• Significant staffing demands
• Increased security requirements
• Parking limitations at the Exhibit Site
• Multi-venue operations
• Compressed implementation timeline
• Need for venue certainty and early planning
Event Expenditures
• Police Personnel Costs – $169,743.26
• Dignitary & VIP Parade Car Rental – $8,743.60
• Marriott Banquet Venue, Catering, and Dignitary Lodging – $65,000.00 • Materials, Supplies, Contracted Services, Security Equipment, & Other Event Costs – $210,008.91
• 2026 Event Expenditures:
• $453,495.77+
• 2025 Cost Comparison: $498,433
• Total Marginal Cost: Numbers reflect actual expenses incurred (e.g., hotel, barriers, flyover fuel, catering, printing, decor purchases, etc), while excluding regular hours worked by staff. o A distinction was made between marginal costs (true fiscal impact) and total cost of effort, which would include regular hours worked by city staff.
Future Considerations
• Event footprint
• Exhibit location
• Attendance trends
• Military participation
• Staffing requirements
• Security requirements
• Budget sustainability
• Expansion of family-oriented
programming
Closing & Questions
• Overall assessment of the 2026 event
• Recognition of participating departments and partners • Committee discussion and questions
THANK
YOU www.torranceca.gov/our-city/police
Traffic & Special Events
Torrance Police Department
Traffic & Special Events Division