Fierce professionals secure Offutt's gates

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Timothy Poremba, 55th Security Forces Squadron, salutes an officer entering at the Kenny Gate on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 30. Common courtesies such as the salute are an important part to a good first impression of Offutt AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jeff W. Gates/Released)

Fierce professionals secure Offutt's gates

U.S. Air Force Airman Donald Lewis, 55th Security Forces Squadron, checks Identification at the Kenny Gate on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 30. Security forces members are starting a new program to enhance their customer service skills to align with their defender abilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jeff W. Gates/Released)

Flag Day

U.S. Air Force Col. Kevin Dixon, 55th Wing vice commander, salutes the U.S. Flag during the Flag Day ceremony held on the parade grounds at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., June 14. Dixon enables base support to U.S. Strategic Command and 50 associate units, and 57,000 active-duty military and family members, civilian personnel and retirees in the Offutt Air Force Base area. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Charles Haymond/Released)

Flag Day

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt's. Casey Putney and Jeffrey Haak, both with the 55th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, hold the U.S. Flag during the Flag Day ceremony held on the parade grounds at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., June 14. The 55th AMXS generates more than 2,500 sorties a year, providing the world's premier intelligence and command and control capabilities. It includes 640 military and 109 contract maintainers in 19 Air Force Specialty Codes. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Charles Haymond/Released)

Retired Air Force Col. Marvin N. ‘Bud’ Morss, former 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing commander,

Retired Air Force Col. Marvin N. ‘Bud’ Morss, former 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing commander, passed away April 16, in Imperial Beach, Calif. Morss was commander of the 55th SRW at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., from June 30, 1971, to Aug. 31, 1972. (Courtesy photo)

Fireman Training

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Donald Bacon (middle), 55th Wing commander, watches as a firefighter gets the hose prepared as smoke quickly descends on them from the ceiling as part of a training exercise located in the vacant McCoy Hall at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., March 7. The training allowed Bacon to experience the firefighter's rigorous training and witness the firefighters in action. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger/Released).

Fireman Training

U.S. Air Force Brig Gen. Donald Bacon, 55th Wing commander, places his honorary fireman's hat on his head during morning roll call at the Offutt Air Force Base firehouse, Neb., March 8. Offutt Fire Chief David Eblin (left) and deputy fire chief James Lencke (right) honored Bacon with a gift following his 24-hour shift training with Offutt's fire fighters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger/Released).

Fireman Training

Lucas Lechtenberg, Offutt Air Force Base firefighter, removes his protective gear as does U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Donald Bacon, following a fast paced training session that involved storming McCoy Hall to find "dummies" representing survivors in the room at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., March 7. Bacon spent 24 hours with Offutt firefighters, training, eating and sleeping in the bunks to gain perspective for how their life is spent on base and in the firehouse. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger/Released).

Fireman Training

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Donald Bacon, 55th Wing commander, carries the fire hose to the second floor of the now empty McCoy Hall dormitories while training with firefighters at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., March 7. Bacon spent a 24-hour period with Offutt's firefighters to get an up-close look into their operations and life in the firehouse. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger/Released).

Fireman Training

Lucas Lechtenberg, Offutt Air Force Base Firefighter, prepares his gear prior to entering a smoke filled McCoy Hall with U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Donald Bacon, 55th Wing commander, at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., March 7. The commander spent 24 hours with Offutt firefighters training, eating and sleeping in the bunks to experience how their life is spent on base and in the firehouse. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger/Released).

Offutt Airman receives Bronze Star

U.S. Air Force Col. Kevin D. Dixon, 55th Wing vice commander, presents a Bronze Star certificate to Master Sgt. Christopher Banks at a ceremony held in the 55th Medical Group's dining facility, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Sept. 27. Banks earned the medal for his heroic acts performed under extreme real world conditions in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger/Released).

Offutt Airman receives Bronze Star

Colleagues were quick to leave their seats to applaud Master Sgt. Christopher Banks after he was formally presented the Bronze Star in the 55th Medical Group's dining facility on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Sept. 27. Banks received the Bronze Star for his acts of valor in response to an attack in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger/Released).