USSTRATCOM, 18th AF commanders present Fairchild Omaha Trophy

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Mackenzie Richardson
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson, United States Strategic Command deputy commander, and Lt. Gen. Samuel Cox, 18th Air Force commander, presented the Omaha Trophy to Col. Brian McDaniel, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, during a presentation ceremony March 14.

The ceremony was held to honor Fairchild's performance in 2015 as the number one wing in the Strategic Aircraft category for demonstrating the highest standards of performance in support of USSTRATCOM's global and diverse missions.

"The Air Force cannot have global vigilance and global power without the global reach Fairchild provides," Wilson said. "I can't thank [Fairchild Airmen] enough for what [they] do by supporting our global strategic deterrence for the 21st century. Having a safe, secure, effective and ready force, [Fairchild Airmen] demonstrate that."

The Omaha Trophy was created in 1971 by the Strategic Command Consultation Committee out of Omaha, Neb. The committee originally presented the trophy annually to the command's top performing wing as a sign of gratitude. The number of categories has since increased as USSTRATCOM's missions and organizational structure changed. The current categories highlight the command's foremost intercontinental ballistic missile wing, ballistic missile submarine, strategic bomber wing, global operations unit and strategic aircraft wing.

"[Team Fairchild] understands balance. With all the things going on around the world that [Team Fairchild] is a part of, you somehow figured out how to balance your support to the nuclear enterprise and USSTRATCOM missions that exist," Cox said. "It's important that we have a very, very strong tanker force to be able to extend the presence."

Wilson and Cox were joined by Gary Gates, member of the SCC, during the presentation of the Omaha trophy. Also in attendance were 92nd ARW and 141st ARW leadership, Fairchild Airmen, Spokane-area civic leaders and members of local media.

"We have really high and demanding standards," concluded Wilson. "Team Fairchild demonstrates excellence in everything they do."

The 2015 Omaha Trophy recipient organizations are listed by category below:
-ICBM: 341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont.
-Ballistic Missile Submarine: USS Wyoming (SSBN 742), Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga.
-Strategic Bomber: 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
-Strategic Aircraft: 92nd Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.
-Global Operations: 406th Space Wing, Buckley Air Force Base, Colo.