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  • A flyover to honor a fallen leader

    A former 55th Operations Group Deputy Commander, Lt. Col. Michael “Happy” Edmondson, U.S. Air Force retired, spent most of his career supporting the mission of Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance. After his service, he continued to support the United States as a civilian contractor for the

  • Offutt develops future leaders

    Offutt Air Force Base held a Flight Commander Development course from Jan 21-24 at the 557th Weather Wing conference room.

  • 55th Dental Squadron improves veterans' oral health

    The 55th Dental Squadron deployed a team of six dental residents, three staff dentists and four dental technicians to provide dental assistance to veterans during the second annual Veterans Mission of Mercy event at the Titan Army National Guard Readiness Center in Yutan, Nebraska, November 14-16.

  • Offutt hosts VA exercise

    Offutt Air Force Base hosted the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System as they conducted a National Disaster Medical System exercise on Nov. 13, at Offutt Field House.

  • Offutt hosts Fire Prevention Week

    The Offutt Fire Department fostered community and base awareness as part of National Fire Prevention Week, held Oct. 7-11, 2024.

  • AFWERX tests DINSTAAR composite ramps at Robins

    An AFWERX Refinery logistician at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, has found a project that could save the DoD money and could be used by Air Force cargo aircraft around the world. Tech. Sgt. Jamie Hubbard, the 55th Wing Programs and Resources Flight chief at Offutt an innovator took advantage of the

  • ACC command team visit Offutt Air Force Base

    Gen. Ken Wilsbach, commander of Air Combat Command, and Chief Master Sgt. David Wolfe, ACC command chief, visited the 55th Wing Aug. 19-20. Wilsbach and Wolfe were accompanied by their spouses, Cindy Wilsbach and Dr. Doniel Wolfe.

  • Offutt proactive against potential flood waters

    Offutt Air Force Base leadership, under the direction of Col. Mark Howard, 55th Wing commander, took proactive steps in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to strengthen flood defenses around the base perimeter. The initiative is a direct response to rising water levels in the

  • Offutt Brass celebrates Music in Our Schools

    The United States Air Force Heartland of America Band Offutt Brass celebrates Music in Our Schools month by visiting various elementary schools throughout Omaha and Papillion, Neb. Metropolitan area Mar. 4 – 8.

  • 55th Wing test Pluto app around the world

    The 55th Wing Project BOCKSCAR office and other members from Team Offutt participate in a test trial of the new Pluto application Nov. 13-17, 2023, at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.

  • Agile Spartan 23.2: RJ’s stay on watch

    In a dynamic display of agility and combat effectiveness, a U.S. Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint assigned to the 763rd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, recently showcased its indispensable role during Operation Agile Spartan, Aug. 18-24, 2023.

  • Kicking Mules validate, verify hot refueling procedures

    The 95th Reconnaissance Squadron validated and verified recently developed RC-135 hot refueling procedures at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, Aug. 14, 2023. The 95th RS assigned to the 55th Operations Group, Air Combat Command, stationed at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. The squadron is

  • Royal Air Force flies with 82nd Reconnaissance Squadron

    For over a decade, the U.S. Air Force and the United Kingdom Royal Air Force have been partnering together to enhance crew training, technology development, maintenance and aircrew co-manning. This year marks the first time an RAF flight lieutenant was integrated into the RC-135 Rivet Joint program.

  • 55th Operations Group establishes new detachment in Alaska

    In an effort to respond more quickly to long standing and ever-increasing combatant command and national intelligence requirements in the Indo-Pacific region, the 55th Operations Group Detachment 1 was recently established at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The new detachment will initially serve

  • Language is power

    In a dynamic world, adapting to and learning about other languages and cultures is key to maintaining military relationships and accomplishing military operations. Linguists are attached to the 41st Electronic Combat Squadron in order to communicate, adapt, understand and to assist when needed, thus

  • EX ABUV brings XCOMM, interoperability to Canada

    From June 9-22, 55 Airmen, contractors and civilians, from bases around the world operated out of only two deployment tents in Canada. A small contingent of Airmen, the 55th Wing set up a main operating base performing communications, logistics and command & control in a semi-austere location during

  • ACE exercise advances 9th Reconnaissance Wing, 55th Wing operations

    The 9th Reconnaissance Wing alongside the 55th Wing completed Dragon Flag EAST after two-week joint operations April 7 at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. The 9th RW from Beale AFB, California, and the 55th Wing from Offutt AFB designed and executed Dragon Flag EAST to simulate Agile Combat

  • 9th Reconnaissance Wing and 55th Wing Conduct Dragon Flag EAST Exercise

    Approximately 60 Airmen and 1 U-2S Dragon Lady from the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., repositioned to Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, to further develop the wing’s readiness capabilities via Dragon Flag EAST, Mar. 25. In accordance with the National Defense Strategy, this

  • Female commanders leading hunt at exercise

    Units from across the world are currently participating in exercise Resolute Hunter, a multi-national and joint service exercise taking place through Nov. 18, 2022, at Naval Air Station Fallon.

  • Team Offutt celebrates runway reopening

    Dozens of current and former members of Team Offutt gathered at Offutt Air Force Base to celebrate the reopening of the runway during a special event Sept. 30, 2022.

  • Out with the old, in with the new

    The 55th Wing and the Air Force Technical Applications Center said goodbye to an aging antique and welcomed its refreshed replacement during a ceremony at the Lincoln Airport Sept. 7, 2022.

  • Offutt 1 of 7 bases testing Integrated Response Co-Location Pilot program

    As part of an Air Force pilot program to centralize and simplify advocacy, response and support services, the Offutt Integrated Response Center officially opened its doors Aug. 15, 2022. The pilot program will evaluate the effectiveness of a new, more holistic approach for responding to and

  • Exercise tests Offutt’s Lead Wing operating capabilities

    Team Offutt conducted a three-day Lead Wing exercise to test their ability to conduct command and control along with mission generation force element integration in a contested environment through simulated competition-through-conflict actions against a peer competitor.

  • Exercise preps total force for future of deployment

    Team Offutt became the first Air Combat Command designated Lead Wing to conduct an Agile Combat Employment exercise when about 60 members from across the base participated in KingFish ACE, March 15 and 16. KingFish ACE is a board game developed by Lt. Col. Troy Pierce, while he was a student at the

  • 55th Wing receives Lead Wing designation

    The 55th Wing is one of five Air Combat Command wings designated as a Lead Wing as Combat Air Forces transition to the Air Force Generation model. The goal of the Lead Wing is to increase a wing commander’s ability and speed in planning, synchronizing and executing operations in a contested

  • Air Combat Command Names Lead Wings 

    The commander of Air Combat Command has designated five units as Lead Wings as part of the combat air force’s transition to the service’s new force generation model. 

  • 55th Wing strengthens Agile Combat Employment capabilities

    The 55th Wing recently deployed an RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft to a simulated forward operating base at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, as part of Operation Agile Warhawk, an exercise designed to test the wing’s Agile Combat Employment capabilities.

  • ACC leadership team visits Team Offutt

    Air Combat Command’s leadership team saw how the Airmen of the 55th Wing and 557th Weather Wing play a crucial role in the defense of the nation during a visit to Offutt Air Force Base July 20-22, 2021.

  • Transition to Lincoln starts with first aircraft arrival

    Normally a 55th Wing OC-135 Open Skies aircraft landing and taxiing to its parking spot is no a big deal, but this particular landing on Feb. 1, 2021, was unlike any other. This flight was Offutt Air Force Base’s first aircraft arrival to the Lincoln Airport, where the 55th Wing and its mission

  • DPAA Honorable Carry

    Photo essay: Members of the 55th Wing Honor Guard carry the last of 25 transfer cases off of Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency Honorable Carry flight Sept. 4, 2020. The remains were transferred from the European Theater recovered by DPAA partners and the last set of remains

  • Offutt runway repair contract awarded

    The Air Force Civil Engineer Center has awarded a $143.9 million contract to replace the runway. The project is a collaborative effort between AFCEC, Offutt Air Force Base and the Air Force Installation Contracting Center.

  • Fightin’ Fifty-Fifth member earns Bronze Star

    A member of the 55th Maintenance Group was presented a Bronze Star Medal during a ceremony here June 19, 2020. Master Sgt. David Schoenagel, 55th MXG first sergeant, earned the medal by distinguishing himself against an opposing armed force during a deployment to Camp Taji, Iraq, from April 10, 2019

  • Glass Titan mission team earns Air Force award

    The Glass Titan Mission team was on the crew bus headed to their jet to conduct a mission, when their mission commander flagged them down and said, “change of plans; you have two hours to prepare.” It’s flexibility like that as well as rapid global mobility, unwavering endurance, precise mission

  • OSS ensures airfield operations continue amid COVID-19 pandemic

    When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the local area in March, the 55th Operations Support Squadron faced a challenge unlike any they had faced before to keep airfield operations ongoing. By implementing numerous precautionary measures, this team of more than 200 people, whose vast mission ensures the 55th

  • Warhorses gallop steadfast through COVID-19

    Warhorses in the middle ages were known as cavalry warriors, they came in different sizes, types and were used for various forms of warfare, reconnaissance, raiding, communication, or supply. Unlike the four-legged equine Warhorses of the past, the 55th Logistics Readiness Squadron continues to help

  • First deployed Airmen return during COVID-19

    The first group of 55th Wing Airmen to return from overseas since the COVID-19 pandemic began arrived here May 4, 2020.The Airmen are with the 45th Reconnaissance Squadron and deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, providing RC-135U Combat Sent operations.

  • Offutt chaplains add virtual services amid pandemic

    Following the directions of the President and Governor Ricketts, in response to the CoronaVirus pandemic, the base chapel here is changing the format of all worship services from in-person to virtual worshipping through the Offutt Facebook page.

  • 557th WW integrating with 16th AF missions

    The 557th Weather Wing is working to integrate its strengths into the recently formed 16th Air Force, which brought intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, cyber, electronic warfare, information operations and weather all under one roof. Integration is a key theme for the Air Force’s first

  • Offutt restores training capabilities with new simulator

    The 55th Operations Group is constructing a new aircrew training device as part of an effort to replace the three ATDs destroyed in the Offutt Air Force Base March flood. This new simulator is needed to aid Team Offutt initial, requalification and continuation air crew training in an organized

  • Offutt runway closure delayed 10 months

    The 55th Wing’s runway replacement at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, has been pushed back from December 2019 to October 2020. The ten-month delay of the runway closure allows for demolition and earthwork to begin before winter and sets up the program to be in the asphalt and concrete work phase by

  • RASCAL restoring readiness, the Air Force way

    A Rapid Assistance Support for Calibration unit arrived at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, May 6, 2019, to re-establish the base’s capability to calibrate equipment, which was lost in the flood.RASCAL is a mobile Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory intended for use worldwide where PMEL

  • Offutt’s pavement team serve as unsung heroes

    Offutt’s pavement team has been working since November to keep snow off the roads, patch potholes and complete a myriad of other duties to ensure the mission continues.And with a winter that included more than 50 inches of snow, they were not lacking for opportunities to excel.

  • Offutt’s flood brings out the best

    At 11 a.m. on Friday, March 15, 2019, the 55th Wing leadership team met to discuss what needed to be accomplished to protect assets and facilities from possible flood waters that were creeping towards the installation.Using lessons learned from a flood here in 2011, they knew that if the levy was

  • Military moms improve conditions

    In 1948, the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act was passed allowing women in military service to receive the same pay and benefits given to men, but it didn’t protect women who wanted to be mothers. The act permitted the military to involuntarily discharge women who became pregnant. In the seven

  • Survey identifies potential homeless vets

    According to the United States Census Bureau there are more than 21 million veterans in United States and nearly 50,000 are homeless.Nebraska comes in slightly below the natural average with 241 homeless veterans.As a preventative measure, the Department of Defense, the Veterans Administration and

  • 2nd WXG innovations: Task Force Bat Phone delivers data Airmen need

    This is the second part of a series highlighting innovations by the 557th Weather Wing’s 2nd Weather Group.Using off-the-shelf components, new processes and a little inspiration from Batman, a group of innovative Airmen from the 557th Weather Wing’s 2nd Weather Group are changing how information is

  • Legal assists personal property claims

    In the wake of base flooding, the 55th Wing Legal office is offering assistance with claims. Claims can be filed for personal property to include for multitude of items such as vehicles to gym bags among others things.For the more than 3,500 members displaced from their work centers, the legal

  • ACC commander grateful to Team Offutt

    The commander of Air Combat Command, Gen. Mike Holmes, visited Team Offutt March 25 to see the flood damaged installation up-close and to thank a few of the many men and women who worked to fortify the base before the water hit and those who are supporting its recover efforts.Offutt is the second

  • Offutt personnel enter damaged facilities

    Team Offutt personnel have regained access to buildings and facilities to begin assessing damage and recovering items which were underwater less than a week ago.Today, more than 20 buildings have been cleared for initial disaster recovery efforts, through a safe and methodical approach, with more

  • Secretary of the Air Force: We will rebuild Offutt

    Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson met with Team Offutt leadership and various elected officials March 22 to discuss rebuilding efforts for the base following recent flooding.Just a week earlier, the base began taking on water that eventually covered one-third of the installation

  • Communications Airmen stand-up cyber café

    More than 3,000 Team Offutt members have been displaced from their work centers due to flooding and are being rehoused in other facilities throughout the base.The base starting taking-on water March 15 and within 48 hours about one-third of the installation was flooded. While displaced units wait

  • Contracting, finance – integral for flood prep

    At 11 a.m. on March 15, Offutt stood-up the first Commander’s Action Team meeting in response to impending flooding.The base immediately went into 24-hour operations and the team agreed to meet again in three hours, giving key players an opportunity to come up with a plan of attack.With a very small

  • MacDill AFB accepts aircraft in response to Offutt AFB flooding

    Five RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft assigned to the 55th Wing, Offutt AFB, Nebraska, relocated here over the weekend due to rising floodwaters at Offutt. The relocation to MacDill Air Force Base ensures the aircraft remain out of harm’s way until they can safely return to their home

  • Offutt stands-up Emergency Family Assistance Center

    The Offutt Air Force Base Airman and Family Readiness Center is scheduled to host an Emergency Family Assistance Center March 21 and 22 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.The event will feature helping agencies such as A&FRC, Air Force Aid, Military and Family Life Counseling, Red Cross, legal assistance,

  • Chapel Response Team hub for flood volunteers, donations

    Offutt Air Force Base started taking-on water March 15 and within 48 hours about one-third of the installation flooded. Additionally, a large part of the community was impacted leaving several Team Offutt members displaced from their homes. In order to organize the outpouring of volunteer and

  • Team Offutt battling flood waters

    Like large portions of Nebraska, Offutt personnel are battling flood waters which started to creep onto the installation March 15.An increase in water levels upstream due to a record-setting snowfall this winter, in addition to a huge drop in air pressure earlier in the week, has overwhelmed the

  • Chapel reinvigorates squadron care

    The foundation of readiness is taking care of people, and with annual military suicides rates remaining steady, the chapel recognized the need for change. After a deep-dive into the issue, U.S. Air Force Major Kevin Humphrey, 55th Wing chaplain, designed a two-phase approach.

  • Legal mitigates environmental impact

    Public math can be a nightmare. For instance, try multiplying 12, the average number of copies needed for each exhibit in a case, by 200, the average number of pages per exhibit, by 30, the average number of exhibits per case. The 55th Wing Judge Advocate office recently recognized advancements in

  • Spouses honor 876 buried at base cemetery

    If you’re passing down Nelson Drive on the north side of base, you will see an occasional visitor laying a bouquet or wreath of flowers by a headstone at the Offutt Cemetery. The Offutt Cemetery has a humble and sorrowful, beginning. While historical documents state the cemetery’s establishment as

  • Friction testing running smoother

    After inclement winter weather, Airfield Management is responsible for testing the friction of the runways, taxiways and aprons - cleared aircraft movement is based on their results. The 55th Operations Support Squadron Airfield Management office has successfully installed a new system - the RT3

  • ACC commander visits Team Offutt

    U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Holmes, the commander of Air Combat Command, along with his wife, Sara, visited Offutt AFB Oct. 30-31, 2018. Holmes, the leader of the primary provider of air combat forces to America's warfighting commanders, met with Airmen, senior leaders, civic leaders and Offutt partner

  • Alternative medicine sticks around at Offutt

    In 2015, Offutt’s Ehrling Bergquist Clinic began using Battle Field Acupuncture as an alternative pain management technique. The popularity of this treatment has continued to grow at Offutt, which now has 25 trained physician acupuncturists on staff.“We use it to treat pain for just about any

  • Honoring our roots: Offutt family returns

    On Aug. 13, 2018, one hundred years, to the day of his passing, generations of Lt. Jarvis Offutt decedents gathered around his grave, white roses in hand. In their company were members of the 55th Wing, who call Offutt Air Force Base home, members of the Royal Air Force 56 Squadron, the unit Lt.

  • Weekend-duty: Total Force Integration more than a buzz phrase at Offutt

    Innovation, which increases readiness, reduces costs, returns time back to Airmen and increases lethality, doesn’t have to involve software upgrades, new weapon systems or a rewrite of a regulation. Members of Team Offutt recently proved this when, for the first time, a RC-135V/W Rivet Joint flew a

  • RAF Warrant Officer leads renovation of 1st Lt. Jarvis Offutt’s grave

    The recent restoration of 1st Lt. Jarvis Offutt’s grave was sparked when a Royal Air Force Rivet Joint specialist, assigned to RAF Waddington’s 56 Squadron visited his grave to pay respects to the former squadron member in December 2017, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Nebraska. Offutt had been a

  • Offutt dentist helps furry patient get back to work

    Dasty, an Offutt military working dog, was brought in to the base Veterinary Treatment Facility by his handler last month for a routine dental cleaning when a fractured tooth was discovered. Through a pre-established agreement, a dentist from the 55th Dental Squadron and his assistant were called to

  • Units make DUIs personal

    For most people, September 9, 2011, was just like any other day. The weather was warm and the sun was out as summer was winding down.However, for Todd and Jaimi Calfee, that is one day they and their family will never forget as a drunk driver took the life of their daughter, Alexis, and her