06-05-2025
Whiteman Air Force Base receives prestigious award
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE — The home of the B-2 bomber is being recognized with an award for its commitment to national security.
The U.S. Strategic Command honored Whiteman Air Force Base on Monday with the Omaha trophy for their hard work in 2024.
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There are four categories for the award. The 509th Bomb Wing received the Omaha Trophy for Excellence in Strategic Execution.
Col. Keith Butler is commander of the 509th Bomb Wing and Whiteman Air Force Base.
He said the committee highlighted a few reasons why they were awarded this trophy, including a combat mission last fall in Yemen, as well as a bomber task force deployment.
'This is where we take, they take a couple of different bombers, whether they're B-1s, B-2s or B-52s, and send them off to different parts around the world,' Butler said. 'To ensured hat both our allies can be assured of our nations nuclear umbrella our ability to do strategic engagement and to work on the inner ability to showcase that partnership.'
The U.S. Strategic Command consultation committee helps make the decision each year.
FOX4 is told the Omaha Trophy is the highest distinction awarded to a nuclear-enterprise unit by a civilian organization. They say it recognizes units that demonstrate 'exceptional performance in global strategic deterrence.'
Looking ahead to keeping this trophy next year, Butler said they're currently in another deployment to Diego Garcia.
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He said it's the largest B2 deployment in the history of the program, more than 30 years.
'All the folks that are out there are handling the tasking that has been placed before us, are doing it with professionalism, with competence and again with confidence,' he added. 'So I think we've got a running start for 2025.'
FOX4 is told the last time Whiteman Air Force Base received the Omaha Trophy was in 2018.
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