25th Air Force leadership team visits Team Offutt

  • Published
  • By Ryan Hansen
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  The 25th Air Force commander and command chief visited Team Offutt Sept. 20-23, 2015, to learn more about the base, its mission and, most importantly, its Airmen.

Over their three-day visit, U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Bradford Shwedo, 25th AF commander, and U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Roger Towberman, 25th AF command chief, met with Airmen, received static tours of an RC-135V/W Rivet Joint and E-4B, and visited multiple facilities.

"I've had an absolute blast walking around and talking to people about the mission here," Shwedo said. "(The 55th Wing) is making a huge impact around the world on a daily basis and I can't thank you enough for your service."

As 25th AF commander, Shwedo is responsible for nearly 30,000 people that deliver multisource intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance products, applications, capabilities and resources around the world.  This was his first visit to Offutt since taking command in August.

"I don't need to tell you the threats our country is facing because you're the ones monitoring this stuff and keeping our decision makers informed," he told the wing during an all-call. "And if you're not walking around with bowed chests, proud of what you do, you don't have a pulse. You need to be proud of what you're doing."

The Fightin' Fifty-Fifth is one of five wings assigned to 25th Air Force along with the 70th, 363rd and 480th Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wings, and the 9th Reconnaissance Wing. The Air Force Technical Applications Center is also part of the almost year-old numbered air force.

Shwedo said the synergy created by now having all of these units together under one umbrella has been an incredible plus for the Air Force and the U.S. in general.

"Since 25th Air Force was stood up, we now have all of these Airmen from different platforms working together to find faster and [better] ways of doing business," he said. "By bringing these folks together, we are getting different lenses ... on the bad guys and seeing exactly what they're doing."

This was Towberman's second visit to Offutt since 25th aair Force was re-designated as a numbered Air Force in September 2014. He said he's continually impressed with the caliber of Airmen across the numbered air force, and the men and women of Offutt are no different

"For those of you who don't know, I spent a minute at this wing," he said. "I promise you, there isn't a senior enlisted in our Air Force who personally understands what you guys are doing every day more than I do. Twenty-five years of consecutive deployment is a long time, in fact it is unprecedented in our nation's history."

Towberman said what the 55th Wing is bringing to the fight around the world cannot be overvalued.

"I really do appreciate and respect the sacrifices that you and your family make and I really mean it when I say thank you," he said. "Thank you so much for what you do. Thank you for reigning hell fire on the enemy. Thank you for continuing to smile while we keep asking you to do more and more. This is one of the greatest cultures in the Air Force."

In addition to stops across the 55th Wing, the two witnessed a dignified arrival at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency satellite lab here, and also made visits to U.S. Strategic Command and the 20th Intelligence Squadron.