PROTECTING AMERICA

The most important duty of your government is to keep you safe. The focus of 2020 has been on health and economic well-being. Geopolitics, however, does not stop for a pandemic. Thankfully, the men and women of United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) and the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue have not skipped a beat in fulfilling their vital deterrence mission amidst the disruption of COVID-19.

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION VISITS STRATCOM

In February, I led a bipartisan Congressional Nuclear Security Working Group delegation visit to Strategic Command. We met with Admiral Richard, STRATCOM Commander, as he demonstrated his command’s global deterrence mission. The meeting included a comprehensive threat briefing as well as a tabletop exercise modeling STRATCOM capabilities as they work tirelessly to prevent the unthinkable. We also discussed the future of airborne command and control, while inspecting an E-4B National Airborne Command Post stationed at Offutt.

DEFENSE POW/MIA ACCOUNTING AGENCY

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), a quiet part of Offutt Air Force Base, fulfills a solemn commitment we’ve made to all service members—that we will honor and remember them. The DPAA works across the globe identifying remains. Earlier, I worked to secure this agency’s home at Offutt Air Force Base. We are working on an expansion in the near future to expand the mission of bringing closure to families who have lost loved ones.

OFFUTT RUNWAY UPDATE

Even with a 500-year flood event and the global pandemic, Offutt Air Force Base remains a world class global military command and control hub for the 21st century. I am pleased that the Offutt runway repair officially started in July. The 55th Wing will relocate to Lincoln Airport starting in March of next year during the construction.

NUCLEAR SECURITY AND ARMS CONTROL

The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) is the most important active arms control agreement between the United States and Russia. The agreement places a cap on strategic nuclear warheads and provides access for each nation to verify the other nation’s nuclear stockpile.

With New START set to expire in February 2021, the Trump Administration has been actively engaged in renegotiations with the Russian Federation. Through the Congressional Nuclear Security Working Group which I co-chair, I have remained in dialogue with the State Department and Arms Control envoy to establish a voice in Congress on these essential issues.

WELCOME HOME

On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Nearly 80 years later this December, the remains of Louis Tushla and Charles Alan Jones—who died aboard the USS Oklahoma—were finally returned home to Nebraska due to the diligent work of the DPAA.

Louis Tushla Charles Alan Jones

In a solemn dignified ceremony in September, I was privileged to stand with Col. Marks, commander of Offutt Air Force Base, as we honorably received 25 U.S. soldiers who died in the Second World War. Their remains will be identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

OFFUTT SELECTED AS FINALIST FOR U.S. SPACE COMMAND

In November, the United States Air Force announced that Offutt Air Force Base is a final candidate to become the permanent home of U.S. Space Command. USSPACECOM would be a natural complement to Offutt’s existing mission—to protect U.S. military assets, dominate the battlespace, and support our heroic warfighters. Offutt is a tremendous asset to our national security. Our delegation is working as a team to make our best case to the Pentagon. The U.S. Air Force intends to make a final decision on Space Command early next year. The U.S. Air Force intends to make a final decision on Space Command early next year.

Midlands Voices: Nebraska’s strengths make it a strong host for Space Command

December 6, 2020 Outside the gates of Offutt there is an expert civilian workforce at the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) located at the University of Nebraska. NSRI is the only Department of Defense (DoD) affiliated research center in the country that is sponsored by a unified combatant command, USSTRATCOM. NSRI’s consortium of expert talent highlights the commitment of Nebraska’s public-private partnerships working together to tackle and solve our nation’s greatest security challenges.

Exciting news to end the year! Offutt Air Force Base is one of six finalists to host U.S. Space Command—a natural complement to Offutt’s essential security mission.

CAMP ASHLAND FLOOD RECOVERY

Last year’s epic floods were devastating to the Nebraska National Guard Camp in Ashland. In typical Guard fashion—they went right back to work. We worked in Congress to get them the necessary funding to rebuild. A great team effort!