OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Members of team Offutt celebrate the renaming of the Law Center to the Strategic Air Command Heritage Law Center on Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska May 1, 2025.
The Law Center was originally constructed as building A, a three-story facility used by the Glenn L. Martin Company during World War II. In November 1948, Lt. Gen. Curtis LeMay, Strategic Air Command commander had SAC's headquarters, and its command post moved from Andrews AFB, Maryland to Offutt AFB.
SAC headquarters operated out of the building until they moved to Building 500 in 1957. The main portion of the Law Center building received few updates after the move.
“I was proud to help cut the ribbon to celebrate the renaming of the building which tied it back to its historical roots, said Lt. Col. John Reid, 55th Wing staff judge advocate. “But most exciting is we entered a relationship with the SAC Museum (off base in Ashland) to decorate the office with historical artifacts on loan.”
This renovation project started July 2023 ending May 1, 2025, and included Repairing areas of water damage, giving the entire interior new paint and creating a garden in the front of the courtroom area, to name a few.
The law center was able to keep the price tag of the renovations under $10,000 through the SAC Museum’s loan (no cost) and their own sweat equity. Repairs were accomplished by the Airmen in their office and other team Offutt members like the Civil Engineers who also gave their time to help.
“We’re very grateful for the SAC Museum’s generous loans which kept the cost very low and allowed us to do more with less dollars, Reid said. “Our own sweat equity allowed us to take the renovations even further and I’m very proud of everyone who stepped in to help make this happen.”
Reid said he and his team thought it was important for their office to appear more professional and felt the need to honor the men and women of SAC.
“It gives me a sense of accomplishment and pride in our building,” said Technical Sgt. Dennis Scott, 55th Wing military justice paralegal. “Out of the 57 work orders we put in, our office personnel accomplished 19 of them with the supplies provided to us by CE Self Help. Seeing the hard work everyone in the office put in makes the feeling that much greater.”
Reid said he was excited to enter a relationship with the SAC Museum to decorate their office with historical artifacts from the SAC era. Col. Mark Howard, 55th Wing commander, spoke of the importance of the artifacts dwelling in the law center during his speech at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
“In the ‘SAC Heritage Law Center’ our SAC artifacts will be proudly cared for and displayed,” said Howard. “A military which does not honor those who came before cannot stand on their shoulders. So today we recommit ourselves to our heritage and those who came before as we proudly build on the foundation which they left.”