News

Navy Operational Support Center Omaha opens new facility

  • Published
  • By Ryan Hansen
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  While the weather outside may have been cold, dreary and gray, the mood inside was anything but as the Sailors of the Navy Operational Support Center Omaha cut the ribbon on their brand new facility here Jan. 22.

The new $4.3 million, 19,000-square-foot facility includes computer training classrooms, conference rooms, general and medical storage areas, office space, showers and an assembly area.

"We're very excited to be joining Team Offutt," said Navy Cmdr. Lanny Johnston, NOSC Omaha commander. "Throughout the planning and construction of this facility I've been very impressed with the level of coordination from the 55th Wing and we're looking forward to being an integral part of the Offutt family."

Since 1961 the Sailors of NOSC Omaha have accomplished their mission to provide outstanding training and administrative support to Navy reservists from a building in the Fort Omaha historical district.

The possibility of constructing a new NOSC Omaha facility on Offutt were first explored in 2005 and on July 28, 2009, ground was broken on the new building.

"After 45 years the North Omaha facility had begun to show its age," Commander Johnston said. "Additionally, since 9-11, anti-terrorism and force protection have become very important issues. The cost associated with providing adequate security for a stand-alone military facility and its associated risks made it (important) to move this command behind an existing military facility's fence line."

NOSC Omaha has a full-time staff of 17 active duty Sailors and regularly hosts roughly 400 Navy Reservists from nine different units throughout the year.

"A third of our Reservists already drill at Offutt Air Force Base either at (U.S. Strategic Command) or at the (Ehrling Berquist Clinic)," Commander Johnston said. "By being closer to where our Reservists drill, NOSC Omaha will be able to provide a more efficient level of customer support."

The new facility is without question a welcome sight for both the full-time staff as well as the Reserve Sailors of NOSC Omaha.

"This has been a long time coming," said Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Kevin Flippin, NOSC Omaha Reserve senior enlisted advisor. "Being in close proximity to all the base amenities will be nice, plus this new building offers a lot more than what we had as far as our communications systems go. It will really enable us to do a better job."

"It's quite exciting being here," said Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jesper Dolly, who's an active-duty member of NOSC Omaha training staff. "The other building was falling apart, so it's almost like a different world."

Petty Officer Dolly said the new computer training classrooms and additional conference rooms will really improve their ability to provide sustained readiness and effective operational support to the Navy.

In addition, a lot of the full-time members of NOSC Omaha live in base housing.

"Being that much closer to the new facility is really going to be convenient for us," Petty Officer Dolly added.

Funding for the new building was provided by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Midwest Region; while Kenneth Hahn Architects of Omaha designed the facility with construction oversight and inspection being provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District.