POMONA, Calif. – Rick Hoffman, formerly vice president and chief operating officer at LA Financial Credit Union in Pasadena, Calif., has taken over as president and chief executive officer of Inland Empire Credit Union in Pomona. The 55-year old Hoffman assumed his new responsibilities July 26. Hoffman, who has spent 12 years in the credit union industry, including the first five in the Las Vegas area, replaces Dianne Harding at the 11,000 member, $47 million asset community charter credit union. The credit union serves five communities including Pomona, Claremont, San Bernardino, Diamond Bar and Ontario. Inland Empire's field-of-membership also includes select employee groups in southern California's Inland Empire, one of the fastest growing areas in the United States. Among Hoffman's plans for Inland Empire CU is to expand the credit union's consumer lending portfolio and adding real estate lending. Before beginning his career in the credit union industry, Hoffman spent 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He was stationed throughout the world, including Thailand and England, where he spent three-and-a-half years. In the U.S., he was stationed in the Southwest and in Virginia. "I was supported by credit unions throughout my career (in the Air Force)," he said. "I thought it (the credit union industry) might be a good opportunity. "We had numerous moves – 10 moves in 20 years – and went through lots of different credit unions during my Air Force career," he added.