OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Offutt Air Force Base welcomed the City of Bellevue’s Planning Director and Public Works Director for a strategic tour of the flood recovery zone on March 10, 2025—reinforcing the deepening partnership between the installation and the surrounding community.
Tammi Palm, Bellevue’s Planning Director, and David Goedeken, Bellevue’s Public Works Director, met with Krista Hoffart, 55th Civil Engineering Squadron Portfolio Optimization Chief, ad Lt. Col. Ryan Davis, 55th Mission Support Group deputy commander, to review Offutt’s ongoing construction efforts and identify new ways to strengthen the alignment between the city and the base.
“The City of Bellevue includes Offutt in all planning and building proposal reviews, bringing us into pre-submittal meetings to identify concerns early and avoid unnecessary costs,” said Hoffart. “They recognize our mission and military families as integral to the community’s future and are committed to synchronized, forward-looking planning.”
That shared vision is more than just civic cooperation—it is a cornerstone of readiness. By integrating Offutt’s operational needs into Bellevue’s planning, both entities are actively supporting the Air Force’s ability to keep the installation in a state of warfighting readiness, ensuring mission-capable Airmen and uninterrupted operations.
Joint planning efforts are particularly evident in infrastructure projects with direct impact on the base’s daily function.
“We’re closely aligned on upcoming projects like the 36th Street improvements and Capehart Road widening between 25th and 36th Streets,” said Hoffart. “By coordinating early, we can minimize disruptions to key commute routes, maintain access to the USSTRATCOM Gate, and improve long-term traffic flow and capacity.”
Efficient access to and from the installation directly supports mission continuity and reinforces the preparedness of the 55th Wing and its tenant units. Infrastructure coordination like this reduces delays, enhances operational tempo, and helps maintain a resilient force posture.
Looking forward, Offutt and Bellevue are exploring additional ways to partner more effectively in day-to-day operations, particularly through Public Works and Civil Engineering collaborations.
“We’re exploring an Inter-Governmental Support Agreement that could generate significant cost savings by combining Offutt and Bellevue contracts for shared services like road striping,” said Hoffart. “By leveraging economies of scale, we can reduce expenses for both parties while increasing efficiency.”
These kinds of agreements don’t just save money—they reinforce the installation’s ability to prioritize mission-essential functions. Every efficiency gained through partnership helps preserve the time, resources, and focus needed to keep Airmen and facilities mission ready.
“Our longstanding and continuing partnership with the City of Bellevue is a testament to the strength in working together and alongside each other as we build a better base and a better community for Nebraska and the nation,” said Davis. “Our community partnership fosters resource and information sharing as well as cost savings measures which benefit both of us.”
As the partnership between Offutt Air Force Base and the City of Bellevue continues to evolve, both sides recognize that collaboration is not just a community good—it’s a national security imperative.