"To be recognized as the top Global Operations Unit by USSTRATCOM is truly humbling. I've watched the amazing energy, talent, innovation, drive and sacrifice that our Airmen put into this global mission and taking care of each other. I'm tremendously proud of them and honored to be a part of this amazing team." said Col. John Wagner, 460th SW commander.
The winning organizations are selected based on formal evaluations, meritorious achievement, safety, and other factors such as community involvement, humanitarian actions and other criterion.
Many accomplishments by the 460th SW were compiled to create a package that stood out amongst the other units and wings. A few of the major accomplishments included the 460th SW’s ability to provide threat and intel alerts to nine combatant commands and guarantee no-fail missile warning for the United States and its allies. The wing executed 8,000 plus error-free operation hours and provided critical missile warning and missile defense, led the Air Force’s global vigilance mission and validated $17.6 billion space based infrared systems program operation.
“We salute the members of these professional units for their outstanding contributions to twenty-first century strategic deterrence and extend appreciation for their contributions and congratulations on their selection for this prestigious award,” said Adm. Cecil D. Haney, USSTRATCOM commander.
The Omaha Trophy, which dates back to the U.S. Air Force’s Strategic Air Command, was originally created by the Strategic Command Consultation (SCC) Committee in 1971. At the time, a single trophy was presented annually as a token of appreciation to the command’s best wing. The strategic space and information operations field was added in 2003 but soon became the cyberspace and global operations categories a few years later.
Since then, the tradition has evolved to unit-level awards that recognize USSTRATCOM’s premier intercontinental ballistic missile wing, ballistic missile submarine, strategic bomber wing and global operations (space/cyberspace) unit. This year, a new category was added to include the combatant command’s top strategic aircraft wing.
The achievement of the Omaha Trophy by the 460th SW demonstrates the wings’ importance and excellence at deterring and preventing strategic attacks against the U.S. and its allies.