Todd Bridges, Actor, George R. Centeno, Chief of Airport Police, Lawyer Christopher Darden, and Sergeant Joe Leal to speak at ICDC Colleges November Commencement.
Homeland California News Press Release
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) November 17, 2011
ICDC College will recognize this years graduates at its 16th Commencement Ceremony to be held on Saturday, November 19th at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The ceremony will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. and will include graduates from ICDC Colleges campuses located in Hollywood, Huntington Park, Van Nuys and South Bay, as well as online graduates located throughout the United States. Actor Todd Bridges, George R. Centeno, Chief of Airport Police for Los Angeles World Airports, and attorney Christopher A. Darden are the keynote speakers for this years graduation ceremony.
Todd Bridges has been a leading Hollywood actor for more than 25 years. His popular autobiography, Killing Willis, has led to numerous interviews on such programs as Oprah, The View, and Piers Morgan. Bridges is the official spokesperson for ICDC Colleges Alcohol and Drug Counseling (ADC) program. In this role, Bridges encourages others to consider becoming an addiction counselor, an important career choice that helps others overcome various forms of addiction and was also pivotal in helping him celebrate over 18 years of sobriety. Todd also works as a director, writer, producer, and is the creator of his own production company, DVFILM WORKs. He will appear in the upcoming 2012 Columbia Pictures movie, “I Hate You Dad.”
Chief Centeno oversees the operation of the Police Organizations four major offices: Support Services, Patrol Services, Traffic & Security and Homeland Security & Intelligence. With more than 1,100 sworn and civilian employees at airports in Los Angeles, Ontario, and Van Nuys, he commands the nations largest aviation law enforcement agency. During his tenure, Chief Centeno was decorated twice for extraordinary and meritorious service, receiving both the Medal of Courage and a Life Saving Award. On November 2, 2011, Chief Centeno announced that at the beginning of 2012 he will retire from the Los Angeles World Airports Police Division, after 37 years of combined military and law enforcement service to this country and the State of California.
Christopher A. Darden is an American lawyer, writer, lecturer and practicing attorney. Darden received his B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration from San Jose State University (1977) and his law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law (1980).
Darden served as a 15-year veteran of the Los Angeles County District Attorneys office, as a leading prosecutor and Assistant Head Deputy Attorney of Special Investigations. After leaving the DAs office, Darden started his own firm, Darden & Associates, Inc., specializing in criminal defense and civil litigation. During his legal career, Darden has tried over 30 homicide cases. In addition to practicing law, Darden has served on the faculty of California State University, Los Angeles and Southwestern Law School. In addition, Darden continues to be a frequent commentator for CNN, Fox News Network and Court TV and continues to author a number of books, including the former number one New York Times best seller, In Contempt (1996). As a frequent invited lecturer for a number of colleges and universities across the U.S., Darden continues to speak on a variety of legal and social issues, including his work as an advocate against domestic violence.
Sergeant Joe Leal served for 16 years in the U.S. Army. After leaving active duty, Mr. Leal has devoted his life to championing for the rights of veterans in this country. Mr. Leal is the founder of the Vet Hunters Project, a program of the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans, an organization whose mission is to end veteran homelessness in America. Through this effort, the Vet Hunters have helped remove veterans from living on the street and place them in shelters and in homes.
The Vet Hunters recently returned from a 1,900 mile bicycle ride to visit disabled, wounded and homeless veterans in homeless shelters, burn centers, and VA hospitals across the country. Sergeant Leal and the Vet Hunters will ride bicycles to Washington DC to bring the voices and faces of the thousands of homeless Veterans from all eras of service to the Capital and White House. Mr. Leal has received several military award and accolades, including the Latin Business Association Army Community Hero of the Year Award 2011.
It is a great honor and privilege to have Todd Bridges, Chief Centeno, Christopher Darden and Sergeant Joe Leal address ICDCs 2010-2011 graduates, said David Hall, Regional Director at ICDC College. These four special individuals demonstrate a tireless commitment to the citizens of Los Angeles in their unique roles; Todd Bridges in his role as an advocate for fighting addiction, Chief Centeno, in overseeing the protection and security at our local airports, Mr. Darden who has continually ensured that justice has prevailed within our community and Sergeant Joe Leal who served our country and is now a community crusader in raising awareness and providing solutions to end veteran homelessness.
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