On Thursday, March 9, 2023, Offutt Air Force Base, in collaboration with Mortenson, held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new 55th Security Forces Squadron campus, marking the beginning of an important $68 million construction project.  The new facility, located in Omaha, Nebraska, is part of a larger initiative to rebuild an area of the base that was destroyed by flooding in 2019. This project includes a security operations center, a firing range, and kennels for military working dogs. 

The 55th Security Forces Squadron plays a vital role in safeguarding strategic weapons and U.S. Strategic Command facilities, while also providing installation police services.  Unfortunately, the squadron’s facilities were destroyed during the devastating Missouri river flooding.  In the aftermath of the catastrophe, 55th personnel have had to travel to other firing ranges, which has reduced the amount of time available for other essential tasks.  Additionally, the military working dogs have been housed in multiple facilities, further complicating the already challenging situation.  The new campus will enhance the capabilities of the 55th Security Forces Squadron, support their critical mission, provide a central location for training, and ensure the military dogs have a comfortable and safe place to call home. 

“As the largest career field in the Air Force and the largest squadron on the base, it's the job of Security Forces to protect, defend and fight. In doing so, the 55th Security Forces provides security for the $9.1 billion in assets housed at Offutt, and an Offutt/Metro Omaha military community of 57,000.  They deploy to locations worldwide in support of all geographic combatant commands. This is a squadron that traces its lineage through the iconic Strategic Air Command Elite Guard, a squadron that has long protected assets that cannot be allowed harm: the STRATCOM Global Operations Center, strategic intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, and of course our nuclear and national command and control aircraft. They have expertly handled people who have tested the security of this installation.” – Col Cooley

Members of the 55th showed up in force to celebrate the groundbreaking of their new home, eagerly anticipating the new facilities that will soon be available to the largest security forces squadron in the Air Force.