Greater Omaha is home to Offutt Air Force Base and the Air Force’s 55^th wing. Major tenants at Offutt include the Air Force Weather Agency and United States Strategic Command (USSSTRATCOM). USSTRATCOM is one of nine unified commands. The command's operationally focused global strategic mission includes Space Operations, Information Operations, Integrated Missile Defense, Global Command & Control, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Global Strike and Strategic Deterrence. In addition, USSTRATCOM is the primary military command in charge of combating weapons of mass destruction, a critical post-9/11 function.

Since the founding of the Strategic Air Command (“SAC”) in the early 1950s, the Greater Omaha area has played a critical role in the defense of our country — and since the turn of the millennium the area’s role continues to expand. For example, in October 2002, USSTRATCOM was merged with USSPACECOM, meaning that the Omaha operations now also provide oversight and guidance to space defense. This growth has also been illustrated through the local increase by more than 100% of defense contractors since 2003.

When making its original decision to locate the SAC in Omaha, the U.S. Department of Defense was particularly attracted to Greater Omaha's centralized location, easy accessibility, local work ethic, cost efficiency and good weather. More recent expansion decisions, like those of Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and the new USSTRATCOM anti-terror Global Innovation and Strategy Center (GISC) echo the original SAC decision and continue to build on Greater Omaha’s reputation as a premier location for national and space defense-related business.

The estimated economic impact of Offutt Air Force Base on the Greater Omaha community is more than $2.2 billion. Click here for more information on the Greater Omaha Economic Development's efforts within the defense industry.