55th ISS celebrates its beginnings with a new coat of arms

(left to right) U.S. Air Force Maj. Gil Moncada, 55th Intelligence Support Squadron director of logistics, and U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Ty Gilbert, 55th ISS commander, mount the newly created squadron coat of arms. The work was created and donated by retired U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Shane Beaulieu as a dedication to the 55th ISS. The piece was hung in the hallway of the 55th Operations Group on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jeff W. Gates/Released)

55th Maintenance Group superintendent presented with a Bronze Star

Chief Master Sgt. Glen Cottrell, 55th Maintenance Group superintendent, poses with Col. Daniel Courtois, 55th MXG commander, following a Bronze Star ceremony March 8 at the Bennie Davis Maintenance Facility on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. Cottrell earned the medal by distinguishing himself as superintendent of the 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Group at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, from Jan. 26, 2012 to Aug. 4, 2012. His stalwart efforts guaranteed protection for International Security Assistance Forces directly engaged with enemy insurgents through the employment of 379 precision guided munitions and more than 120,000 rounds of ammunition, as well as rapid response to 734 Troops In Contact situations. (Photo by Jeff Gates/Released)

Combatives Level I

U.S. Air Force Technical Sgt. Ernie Argarin, with the 55th Security Forces Squadron, practices his arm bar from the guard technique while participating in level one combatives training held at the Offutt Field House, March 1. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Josh Plueger/Released)

Combatives Level I

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Bejarano, with U.S. Strategic Command, showcases proper arm bar from the guard technique on former Air Force Staff Sgt. Jules Dudoit as part of the level one combatives certification at the Offutt Field House, March 1. Civilians and military alike are allowed to take part in the self-defense training. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Josh Plueger/Released)

Snow removal

Matt Rix, an airfield clearing operator from the 55th Civil Engineering Squadron, operates a front-end loader with a pusher blade to clear snow from the parking lot of the Base Exchange at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Feb. 22. Offutt received eight inches of accumulation with the storm. (U.S. Air Force photo by Delanie Stafford/Released))

Snow removal

Jim Funkhouser, an airfield clearing operator from the 55th Civil Engineering Squadron, operates a front-end loader with a pusher blade to clear snow from the parking lot of the Base Exchange at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Feb. 22. Offutt received eight inches of accumulation with the storm. (U.S. Air Force photo by Delanie Stafford/Released)

Snow removal

Phil Wertz, an airfield clearing operator from the 55th Civil Engineering Squadron, uses a shovel to remove compacted snow from his high-speed broom during a preventive maintenance break. Taylor was working alongside other operators to remove eight inches of snow that accumulated at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Feb 22. (U.S. Air Force photo by Delanie Stafford/Released)

Snow removal

Phil Wertz, an airfield clearing operator from the 55th Civil Engineering Squadron, uses a shovel to remove compacted snow from his high-speed broom during a preventive maintenance break. Taylor was working alongside other operators to remove eight inches of snow that accumulated at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Feb 22. (U.S. Air Force photo by Delanie Stafford/Released)

Snow removal

A snow blower operated by the 55th Civil Engineering Squadron’s heavy pavement shop removes a wall of snow from a taxiway at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Feb. 22. Offutt received eight inches of accumulation with the storm. (U.S. Air Force photo by Delanie Stafford/Released)

Snow removal

A snow blower operated by the 55th Civil Engineering Squadron’s heavy pavement shop removes a wall of snow from a taxiway at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Feb. 22. Offutt received eight inches of accumulation with the storm. (U.S. Air Force photo by Delanie Stafford/Released)

Snow removal

Four high-speed brooms from the 55th Civil Engineering Squadron’s heavy pavement shop operate in a snow removal pattern while sweeping compacted snow from the lower aircraft ramp of Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Feb. 22. Offutt received eight inches of accumulation with the storm. (U.S. Air Force photo by Delanie Stafford/Released)

AFAF Kicks off

Col. John Rauch, 55th Wing commander, signs a check in support of the Air Force Assistance Fund, which kicked off March 4 and is scheduled to run through April 12. The AFAF’s mission is to raise money for charities that directly support members of the Air Force family in need, including active duty, retirees, reservists, guard and their dependents, as well as surviving spouses. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Josh Plueger/Released)

Tuskegee Airmen program hopes to send youth interest in education sky-high

Omaha Benson High School JROTC cadet Robert Moeller receives instruction on the basic controls of an RC-135V/W Rivet Joint aircraft inside a conference room at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Feb. 14. Moeller was participating in a program organized by the Alfonza W. Davis chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., designed to stimulate youth interest in science, technology, engineering and math. (U.S. Air Force photo by Delanie Stafford/Released)

Tuskegee Airmen program hopes to send youth interest in education sky-high

Omaha Benson High School JROTC cadets and volunteers from Offutt Air Force Base pose for a group shot outside of an RC-135V/W Rivet Joint simulator at Offutt AFB, Neb., Feb. 14. The cadets were participating in a program organized by the Alfonza W. Davis chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., designed to stimulate youth interest in science, technology, engineering and math. (U.S. Air Force photo by Delanie Stafford/Released)

Tuskegee Airmen program hopes to send youth interest in education sky-high

Omaha Benson High School JROTC cadet Tabitha Hanzlik, right, and Michael Cook, 338th Combat Training Squadron instructor pilot, prepare to takeoff inside an RC-135 simulator at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Feb. 14. Hanzlik was participating in a program organized by the Alfonza W. Davis chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., designed to stimulate youth interest in science, technology, engineering and math. (U.S. Air Force photo by Delanie Stafford/Released)

Tuskegee Airmen program hopes to send youth interest in education sky-high

Omaha Benson High School JROTC cadets Katie Glessman, left, and Warren Hunter III receive instruction on the basic controls of an RC-135V/W Rivet Joint aircraft inside a conference room at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Feb. 14. After instruction, the cadets attempted takeoffs, landings and aerial refueling in the simulator. (U.S. Air Force photo by Delanie Stafford/Released)

ACC chiefs depart Offutt with broad perspective

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. William Thomaston, Jr., 55th Wing command chief, addresses the crowd during the Air Force Combat Command Chief’s Orientation held at the Dougherty conference center on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Jan. 29. Thomaston is the principal enlisted advisor to the 55th Wing commander and is responsible for assessing factors influencing the mission readiness, utilization, morale and quality of life of more than 5,100 enlisted Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Charles Haymond/Released)

ACC chiefs depart Offutt with broad perspective

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. William Thomaston, Jr., 55th Wing command chief, speaks to the crowd during the Air Combat Command Chief’s Orientation held at the Dougherty conference center on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Jan. 29. Approximately 120 new chief master sergeants and chief master sergeant selects from various bases participated in this orientation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Charles Haymond/Released)

ACC chiefs depart Offutt with broad perspective

Retired U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. James M. McCoy, the sixth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force 1979 – 1981, greets Air Combat Command’s newest Chief Master Sergeants at a mixer held at the Patriot Club Jan. 27 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The new chiefs will spend a week at Offutt gaining further insight as to what the rank entails and what is to be expected of them in this milestone. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger/Released)

ACC chiefs depart Offutt with broad perspective

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Richard Parsons, command chief master sergeant of Air Combat Command, addresses the room during the opener for ACC Chief Orientation held at the Dougherty conference center on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Jan. 28. Parsons provides guidance to the assigned 36 command chief master sergeants and acts as functional manager for ACC's 350 first sergeants. (U.S. Air Force photo by Charles Haymond/Released)

Salute to America’s Heroes

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Victor Toney, 55th Wing chaplain, shares a few words before providing the invocation at the inaugural Salute to America’s Heroes dinner at the Omaha Ramada Inn Feb. 16. More than 50 wounded warriors and their families from around the Midwest attended the event. (Photo by Ryan Hansen)

Salute to America’s Heroes

Retired Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Ben Wormington shares his message as the keynote speaker at the inaugural Salute to America’s Heroes dinner with more than 50 wounded warriors and their families at the Omaha Ramada Inn Feb. 16. Wormington is an Omaha native and active with the local VA as well as the Wounded Warrior Project. (Photo by Ryan Hansen)

Leadership group receives hands-on training for active shooter situations

Vihar, a 7-year-old Belgium Malinois and K-9 Military Working Dog, demonstrates how to apprehend a suspect, which was played by Tech. Sgt. Bryan Gudmundson, the kennel master for the 55th Security Forces Squadron, on Feb. 5. (U.S. Air Force Photo by 2nd Lt. Carly Costello/Released)

Leadership group receives hands-on training for active shooter situations

Kellen Petersen, a member of Leadership Sarpy, and Staff Sgt. Johann Gonzalez, 55th Security Forces Squadron, search for the shooter during a demonstration at the Security Forces Shoot House on Feb. 5. (U.S. Air Force Photo by 2nd Lt. Carly Costello/Released)