Offutt Air Force Base

Offutt Air Force Base is located south of Omaha, Nebraska, adjacent to Bellevue in Sarpy County. The installation originated as Fort Crook, commissioned by the War Department in 1890 and constructed between 1894 and 1896. Aviation use began in 1918 with the 61st Balloon Company, followed by the establishment of a grass airfield in 1921. The field was renamed in honor of First Lieutenant Jarvis Offutt in 1924. During World War II, the site hosted the Glenn L. Martin Bomber Plant, which produced B-29 Superfortress aircraft, including the Enola Gay and Bockscar. In 1948, the facility was renamed Offutt Air Force Base and became the headquarters for Strategic Air Command (SAC), serving as the primary command center for U.S. nuclear forces during the Cold War.

The United States Air Force operates the base under Air Combat Command (ACC), with the 55th Wing serving as the host unit. Offutt Air Force Base is the headquarters for United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), a unified combatant command responsible for strategic deterrence, nuclear operations, missile defense, and global strike capabilities. Other major units include the 557th Weather Wing, which serves as the Air Force's lead weather center, and the 595th Command and Control Group. The 55th Wing conducts worldwide reconnaissance and intelligence missions.

The base hosts squadrons of specialized aircraft, including the RC-135 Rivet Joint, Cobra Ball, and Combat Sent variants; the E-4B Advanced Airborne Command Post; and the WC-135 Constant Phoenix. Notable infrastructure includes the USSTRATCOM Command and Control Facility (C2F) and an underground command bunker. Historical facilities still in use include the former Glenn L. Martin-Nebraska assembly buildings and Generals’ Row, a collection of residential structures dating to the 1890s. The installation also supports the 170th Group of the Nebraska Air National Guard and the 55th Electronic Combat Group, the latter of which operates EC-130 aircraft from a geographically separated location. Operational capabilities include the provision of worldwide command, control, and communications systems for national leadership.