Fightin’ Fifty-Fifth earns Omaha Trophy Published April 30, 2012 By Ryan Hansen 55th Wing Public Affairs OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- For the second time in three years, the 55th Wing has earned the Omaha Trophy as the best strategic aircraft operations wing by U.S. Strategic Command. The Omaha Trophy winners, recently announced by Gen. C. Robert Kehler, STRATCOM commander, are military units demonstrating the highest performance standards within the command's mission areas. Selections are based on formal evaluations, meritorious achievement, safety and other factors such as community involvement and humanitarian actions. "Winning the Omaha Trophy is a great honor for the 55th Wing," said Brig. Gen. Donald Bacon, 55th Wing commander, "and I thank General Kehler, USSTRATCOM and the consultation committee for recognizing our Airmen." The Omaha Trophy is presented by the Strategic Command Consultation Committee, a local civilian organization that supports Team Offutt and whose lineage dates back to Strategic Air Command and Gen. Curtis E. LeMay. "We had an historic year in 2011 and supporting the USSTRATCOM mission is one of the most important mission sets we have," Bacon said. "This is also another opportunity to thank our great Airmen for the superb work they do everyday serving our nation." According to the command, the SCC presented the first Omaha Trophy to Strategic Air Command in 1971 on behalf of the citizens of Omaha. Through the years the number of awards has increased as the command's organizational structure has changed. "The fact that this trophy also reflects the great support we have from our local community makes it even more meaningful," Bacon said. "This community sets the standard throughout the Department of Defense and we are blessed to call it home." In addition to strategic aircraft operations, STRATCOM also honored the military units within global operations, intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine missiles. STRATCOM is one of ten U.S. unified commands under the Department of Defense. The command, including components, employs more than 4,300 people representing all four services including DOD civilians and contractors who oversee the command's operationally-focused global strategic mission.