GREATER OMAHA
STRATEGIC LOCATION GLOBAL MISSIONS
Protecting America’s Vital Interests Deterrence, Space, Cyberspace Greater Omaha is home to Offutt Air Force Base, which houses United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), U.S. Air Force Weather Agency and the 55th Wing of the U.S. Air Force. As such, Greater Omaha has a global reach, emphasizing key components of the base’s core missions — including deterrence, space, cyberspace, global weather, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The Mission Assessment and Analysis directorate is USSTRATCOM’s mechanism to rapidly utilize world-class expertise from non-traditional partners to enhance the command’s war-fighting capabilities. To support the area’s defense industry, the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership established a military advisory group comprised of local senior defense industry and military leadership, as well as National Guard and federal delegation representatives. The group supports efforts to attract new missions, retain and expand current missions and support local department of defense contractors. The advisory group is an integral partner with the Nebraska Military Support Coalition (NMSC), a nonprofit organization comprised of senior community and area business leaders who work to ensure necessary resources and investments are in place to support the personnel and missions at Offutt. Its vision is to retain Offutt as the premier operational air force base hosting current and future national security missions for the department of defense and the U.S.
Greater Omaha has served as a command and support center for the military since the 1860s. From the earliest days, Omaha’s strategic location in the middle of the country has placed it at a transportation and communications crossroads, including the overland road, the Missouri River and the Union Pacific Railroad.
Omaha’s business community has always supported the military. Recently, through the close working relationship between the Greater Omaha Chamber and base officials, a 136-plus acre tract of property directly to the south of Offutt was purchased for future base missions and expansion, protecting it from encroachment.
Offutt Air Force Base — Home to Significant National Security Missions Offutt is one of Nebraska’s largest employers, with 8,000 military and civilian personnel. Nearly 32,000 military, civilians, contractors, dependents and retirees make their home in the area. The base generates almost 4,400 secondary jobs regionally. Additionally, more than 65 defense companies have a presence near Offutt, providing direct support to its missions. The companies include BAE, Boeing, Booz Allen Hamilton, CSC, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Company, SAIC and such regional firms as CSSS, McCallie Associates, Inc. and SES to name a few. In the last few years, Offutt has invested in excess of $125 million to construct a fire station, security gate, Base Exchange complex, control tower, Air Force Weather Agency headquarters building, child development center, major squadron building and has made extensive runway and ramp improvements. Family housing has been renovated and a community hospital was constructed.
#7 Best Places for Business and Careers
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#3 Best U.S. Cities for Business
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#6 Top Pro-Business States for 2010
Pollina Corporate Real Estate – 2010
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Forbes – November 2009
Offutt is supported by united and committed elected officials, Fortune 1000 civic leaders, area chambers of commerce, military retirees and community businesses dedicated to providing resources and quality of life initiatives for Offutt’s military personnel and families.
55th Wing — Offutt’s Host Organization • “Fightin’ Fifty-Fifth” provides global reconnaissance, real-time intelligence collection, command and control, information warfare, electronic attack, treaty verification and combat support to the Air Force, combatant commands, national leaders and other agencies. • Largest wing in Air Combat Command operating on four continents and supporting eight diverse flying missions. Subordinate units: 338th Combat Training Squadron –– Provides training programs to prepare eight squadrons to support reconnaissance, command and control and treaty verification missions. –– Performs the initial, difference, requalification, and upgrade training for the largest and most diverse operations group in Air Combat Command. 343rd Reconnaissance Squadron –– Plans and executes Air Force programs in support of Offutt’s vision. –– Collects, correlates, combines and distributes tactical intelligence to the war fighter in near real time.
GLOBAL • Host command to 50 associate organizations including USSTRATCOM, the Air Force Weather Agency and the following:
U.S. Strategic Command –– Deter attacks on U.S. vital interests and ensure U.S. freedom of action in space and cyberspace. –– Deliver integrated kinetic and non-kinetic effects including nuclear and information operations in support of U.S. Joint Forces Commander operations. –– Synchronize plans for global missile defense, operations and regional combating of weapons of mass destruction. –– Provide integrated surveillance and reconnaissance allocation recommendations to the secretary of defense. –– Accomplishes USSTRATCOM’s Airborne Command Post with the Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) E-6B Mercury aircraft supported by the U.S. Navy.
Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA) –– Maximizes America’s power through the exploitation of timely, accurate and relevant weather information. –– Serves as a field operating agency, reporting to the Air Force director of weather, deputy chief of staff air and space operations, and serves as lead command executing a $175 million annual budget.
Defense Language Learning Center –– First Air Force dedicated language-learning center was established at Offutt in 2005 to meet the needs of Air Force operations around the globe. –– Provides constant training and honing of Air Force linguist language skills.
We are extremely proud of the thriving relationship we enjoy with our neighboring communities. Brig. Gen. John N.T. Shanahan, Commander, 55th Wing
MISSIONS –– More than 1,400 men and women at 14 locations worldwide produce 800,000 products daily for every military operation, contingency mission and humanitarian relief effort conducted by the U.S. –– AFWA is located in a new 188-thousand-squarefoot Gold LEED green-certified building.
20th Intelligence Squadron –– Conducts target analysis, weaponeering and munitions effectiveness assessments for precision-guided munitions. –– Processes and analyzes raw electronic intelligence data, and prepares both operational and technical electronic intelligence reports and studies. –– Provides prompt and precise intelligence, which enables warfighters to safely engage and achieve global objectives.
The Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) –– Provides national authorities quality technical measurements to monitor nuclear treaty compliance and develops advanced proliferation monitoring technologies to preserve America’s security. –– AFTAC experts analyze disturbing events for nuclear identification and report findings to the national command authorities.
The National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) –– Provides the president of the United States a survivable command center enabling him to transmit directions to U.S. military forces during peacetime and war (E4B National Airborne Operations Center). –– One of four national military command centers that support the national command authorities and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. –– The NAOC’s survivable communication systems, combined with the endurance and mobility of the aircraft, make them a crucial element in national command and control.
National Guard The Nebraska Army and Air National Guard account for approximately 5,000 military and civilian personnel and over $160 million in annual payroll. The National Guard missions support an additional 1,300 jobs in the state. The estimated value of these indirect jobs is over $45 million annually. –– Army National Guard soldiers can be found at over 40 locations in Nebraska. –– Consolidation of Army Guard and Reserve facilities resulted in $50 million in construction and five new facilities in Nebraska within the last five years. –– The 155th Air Refueling Wing, based at the Municipal Airport in Lincoln, Neb., has flown the KC-135R Stratotanker since 1992 supporting numerous global military operations. In addition, the 170th Air National Guard Group provides a full range of support to the 55th Wing.
Reserves Greater Omaha is home to about 1,600 reservists, across all branches, with an annual economic impact of approximately $125 million.
G.I. JOBS – 2010 ranked Union Pacific Railroad #1, Werner Enterprises #25 and West Corporation #80 on the Military Friendly Employers list
STRATEGIC LOCATION Infrastructure and Location Assure Mission Success Offutt is centrally located at the hub of the nation’s fiber connectivity and communications networks, making it the ideal location for current and future military operations. • Area around Offutt is world-renowned for its massive, sophisticated and carefully planned telecommunications infrastructure with more than 20 carriers, redundancy and varied routing options. • Anchor location for a quad-core super computer, one of the world’s fastest. • Thriving information technology sector attracting companies with skilled, high-tech workforces, including Yahoo! and Google. • Outstanding access to air, rail and truck transportation and at the convergence of Interstates 80 and 29.
• Greater Omaha’s Eppley Airfield, a regional airport serving surrounding states, is served by 20 jet air carriers and eight freight carriers. These carriers provide approximately 200 flights daily, with non-stop flights to 20 cities.
Thriving, Diverse Place to Do Business Greater Omaha’s low cost of doing business, abundant, affordable housing, an exemplary education system and numerous arts, sports and entertainment opportunities are just a few reasons why Greater Omaha attracts, retains and grows businesses. There is so much to see, do and enjoy in Greater Omaha and it’s all at a cost 10 to 12 percent below the national average.
Omaha is a great community. It is a wonderful place for our employees to live, work and raise their families. Ethical behavior and values are the cornerstone of what we do and this community represents the very best. Retired Lt. Gen. Bob Hinson, vice president government programs, Northrop Grumman
Vibrant Place to Live, Work and Locate Your Business • Nebraska has a pro-business tax climate — cost of doing business is 15 percent below the national average. • Performance-based incentives allow firms to earn tax credits, refunds and exemptions for investment and new job creation. • A young workforce with approximately 36 percent of the metro population under 25 years of age, compared to 34 percent nationally. • ACCRA Cost of Living Index shows Greater Omaha’s cost of living ranges from 10 to 12 percent less than the national average. • Public and private k-12 education nationally recognized for excellence. • Sixteen public and private post-secondary institutions offer degrees that support missions at Offutt. With a combined student enrollment of almost 60,000, with approximately 10,000 graduates each year. Regionally, 1,500 students are graduated with technology, engineering and engineering-tech degrees annually. Universities programs include: –– University of Nebraska’s Peter Kiewit Institute helps meet the needs of the nation’s technology and engineering firms by providing a top-flight education to students interested in pursuing careers in information science, technology and engineering. –– Creighton University’s Joe Ricketts Center in Electronic Commerce and Database Marketing promotes information technology education and builds bridges with the business community. –– University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management has developed entrepreneurial leadership programs for the information technology industry by providing a unique blended curriculum of computer science and business management.
We had lived in Nebraska on three previous assignments, and because of our experience, we decided to move back. Retired Maj. Gen. Tom O’Riordan, USAF, director of U.S. Business Development, Raytheon
–– University of Nebraska College of Law has the only program in the U.S that offers a master of law degree in space law. Two graduates from the 2009 class work at U.S. Strategic Command headquarters at Offutt. –– Two major medical schools — the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Creighton University Medical Center — as well as two pharmacy schools, a school of dentistry and other related health professional schools. UNMC plays a vital role in bioterrorism preparedness. Their biocontainment unit is the largest unit in the country, important to USSTRATCOM, NORTHCOM and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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Portfolio.com/bizjournals – March 2010
“Nebraska is proud to have in our state and communities the outstanding men and women at Offutt Air Force Base. We are committed to supporting and sustaining the base’s missions and personnel through dedicated leadership and involvement. For over 50 years Nebraska has been at the heart of this nation’s national security. It remains the right place to invest in the future.” Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman
For more information contact: Ned Holmes Senior Military Liaison (402) 978-7946, nholmes@selectgreateromaha.com
SelectGreaterOmaha.com (402) 346-5000 • (800) 852-2622 1301 Harney St., Omaha, NE 68102 • 13206 Grover St., Omaha, NE 68144 October 2010. For the most current data, go to SelectGreaterOmaha.com