509th Bomb Wing receives Omaha Trophy

by Senior Airman Bryan Crane
509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

5/2/2014 - WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- The 509th Bomb Wing was awarded the 2013 Omaha Trophy in the Strategic Aircraft Operations category, April 28, 2014, at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.

This is the second time Whiteman has one this award, the title was previously held in 2006.

The Omaha Trophy, sponsored by the Omaha's Strategic Command Consultation Committee, is awarded annually to four outstanding units that represent USSTRATCOM's mission areas, their role in global operations and USSTRATCOM's continued emphasis on strategic deterrence.

The four awards given are the Global Operations, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, Submarine Ballistic Missile and Strategic Aircraft Operations trophies. Selections are based on formal evaluations, meritorious achievement, safety and factors such as community involvement and humanitarian actions.

The Omaha Trophy was first awarded in 1970 by the citizens of Omaha, Nebraska, through the Strategic Air Command Consultation Committee, to the most outstanding SAC wing in honor of the 25th anniversary of the SAC.

Over the years more categories have been added. In 1992 when SAC was deactivated and USSTRATCOM was activated, USSTRATCOM Consultation Committee went to two awards.

In 2003, two more categories where added.The award was dropped back to two categories for one year in 2007 and returned back to its current format of four categories in 2008.

Lt. Gen. James Kowalski, U.S. Strategic Command deputy commander, presented the award on behalf of Adm. Cecil Haney, U.S. Strategic Command commander, before addressing Team Whiteman's Airmen and praising their continuous mission success.