Ten years ago, Lieutenant Colonel Cory Pike and his wife, Kristina Iskander, moved their family to the Hill Section. With its proximity to the beach, it was the perfect place to raise their three children, Alexandria (13), Christopher (11), and Olivia (9). The family quickly made Manhattan Beach their home, frequenting local parks and restaurants, with Nick’s, Tin Roof and The Strand House being amongst their favorite spots to enjoy.

Cory, originally from Ogdensburg, New York, and Kristina, hailing from Chattanooga, Tennessee, each took different paths before their paths crossed in the U.S. Air Force. Cory attended the Rochester Institute of Technology, while Kristina pursued her education at Boston University. Their shared commitment to serving their country brought them together, and after meeting during their military service, they have now been married for 23 years.

Both Cory and Kristina proudly served in the U.S. Air Force, embodying the spirit of duty, sacrifice, and honor. Today, Kristina owns a defense consulting company, providing highly specialized program management expertise to the U. S. Space Force.  Today, Cory continues his service as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, now in his 24th year of military service to our Nation.  When not performing his Reserve duty, he serves as Vice President for Classified Space Programs at SAIC.  In all capacities, they continue the mission they started while on Active Duty, to protect and defend our Nation’s freedom to access and operate in space.  While they both work locally at Space Systems Command, located at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, their work expands globally to over 22,000 miles above the Earth’s surface. Their expertise and dedication help guide the defense and security of our nation, a responsibility born from their time as Active Duty Air Force officers, and one they shoulder with pride today.

As a family, they make the most of their time together, spending the past few years enjoying cruises to Alaska, Norway, and the Greek Isles and a fantastically fun trip to visit an Aunt in Vienna (with a quick “Sound of Music” trip to Salzburg).  But no matter where they travel, they always return to the welcoming shores of Manhattan Beach, where they have built a life full of love, service, and community.

This Veterans Day, we salute Cory, Kristina, and their family for their unwavering commitment to our country. Their service reminds us that the freedoms we enjoy are protected by those willing to answer the call of duty. In the words of President Kennedy, they have exemplified what it means to do for their country.

Happy Veterans Day to Lieutenant Colonel Cory Pike, Kristina Iskander, and their family—thank you for your service and sacrifice!