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A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, receives fuel from a 100th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker during Global Thunder 20, Oct. 28, 2019. Global Thunder is an annual command and control exercise that assesses and validates all of U.S. Strategic Command’s mission areas, tests joint and field training operations, and has a specific focus on nuclear readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Trevor T. McBride)

Oct. 31, 2019

USSTRATCOM proves nuclear readiness, conducts bomber fly-off during Global Thunder 20

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. — After nearly two weeks of intense simulations and training opportunities, United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) successfully completed Global Thunder 20. This year’s exercise, which included a Bomber Task Force mission in Europe, focused on joint operations, command & control objectives, and nuclear force readiness.

Col. Robert "Scott" Grant, commander, 117 Air Refueling Wing, hoists the Omaha Trophy in front of the 117 ARW at Sumpter Smith Air National Guard Base, AL., Oct. 19, 2019. The 117 ARW was the first Air National Guard tanker unit to receive the award having won it in the startegic aircraft category. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Jeremy Farson)

Oct. 22, 2019

Omaha Trophy Presented to 117th Air Refueling Wing

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 117th Air Refueling Wing was the first Air National Guard unit to receive the Omaha Trophy here on Saturday.The 117 ARW won the award in the strategic aircraft category in recognition of the outstanding mission performance with the U.S. Strategic Command.The ceremony was conducted in the maintenance hangar with about 700 people in attendance

Oct. 8, 2019

USSTRATCOM J10 director retires; Celebrates 35-Year Air Force Career

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. — The director of Reserve forces and mobilization assistant to the commander of U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), Maj. Gen. Richard J. Evans III, retired from the U.S. Air Force Oct. 1, 2019, at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.

Sept. 23, 2019

Barksdale AFB bomb wings support Cobra Warrior

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFNS) — The exercise featured more than 50 fighter aircraft from Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Israel. The large-scale exercise, based out of RAF Waddingham, United Kingdom, had aircraft flying in simultaneously to participate in peer-to-peer scenarios.

U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit aircraft flew from RAF Fairford, England, to Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal, on Sept. 9, 2019, to conduct hot pit refueling in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility.

Sept. 10, 2019

B-2 Spirit aircraft conduct hot pit refueling at Lajes Field

LAJES FIELD, Azores — U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit aircraft flew from RAF Fairford, England, to Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal, on Sept. 9, 2019, to conduct hot pit refueling in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility.

An unarmed Trident II D5 missile launches from the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) off the coast of San Diego, California, Sept. 4, 2019. The test launch was one of four conducted Sept. 4 and Sept. 6 as part of a U.S. Navy Commander Evaluation Test, validating performance expectations of the life-extended Trident II D5 strategic weapon system. These four launches mark 176 successful missile launches of the Trident II D5 strategic weapon system.

Sept. 6, 2019

USS Nebraska Tests Four Trident II D5 Missiles

SAN DIEGO — The U.S. Navy conducted four scheduled missile test flights of unarmed Trident II (D5) missiles from USS Nebraska (SSBN-739), an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, off the coast of Southern California this week.

Major General James Dawkins Jr., Eighth Air Force commander, poses for a photo with a pilot call sign Heat, assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing, at Royal Air Force Base Fairford, England, on August 28, 2019. Dawkins flew in a B-2 Spirit during his visit to engage with members of Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, who had deployed to Royal Air Force Fairford as a Bomber Task Force to conduct theater integration and flying training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kayla White)

Sept. 5, 2019

Eighth AF commander visits BTF Airmen in European theater

ROYAL AIR FORCE FAIRFORD, England — Maj. Gen. James Dawkins Jr., the Eighth Air Force commander, flew across the Atlantic to visit his Airmen at Royal Air Base Fairford, England, from August 27-28, 2019. He also flew a B-2 training sortie during his visit.

U.S. Air Force Col. Jeffrey Schreiner, center, holds the Omaha Trophy with the U.S. Strategic Command official party after the awards presentation on Aug. 27, 2019, at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. The Omaha Trophy is awarded by the Strategic Command Consultation Committee to units for excellence in strategic deterrence and support of global strike operations. The active-duty 509th Bomb Wing and Missouri Air National Guard’s 131st Bomb Wing jointly earned the Omaha Trophy for executing the best Strategic Bomber Operations of 2018. From left, the Honorable Rita Sanders, representing the SCC; U.S. Air National Guard Col. Kenneth Eaves, 131st Bomb Wing commander; U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Dave Kriete, STRATCOM deputy commander; Col. Jeffrey Schreiner; U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Terrence Meekins, STRATCOM Headquarters commandant; U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Ziegelbein, acting command chief 509th Bomb Wing and Chief Master Sgt. Jessica Settle, 131st command chief. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman 1st Class Thomas Johns)

Aug. 28, 2019

STRATCOM deputy commander presents Omaha Trophy to Whiteman AFB total-force partners

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. — U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Dave Kriete, the U.S. Strategic Command deputy commander, presented the Airmen of the 509th and 131th Bomb Wings with the prestigious Omaha Trophy during a ceremony here Aug. 27.

U.S. Navy Deputy Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), Vice Adm. Dave Kriete prepares to present the Omaha Trophy to the crew of the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Nevada (SSBN 733) in Silverdale, Wash., Aug. 21, 2019. The Omaha Trophy is awarded annually to USSTRATCOM units who demonstrate the highest standards of performance in the command's mission areas, their role in global operations and the command's continued emphasis on strategic deterrence.

Aug. 23, 2019

USS Nevada Awarded Omaha Trophy

SILVERDALE, Wash. — The U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) Omaha Trophy was presented to the Blue and Gold crews of USS Nevada (SSBN 733) during a ceremony held at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Aug 21.

U.S. Air Force Gen. John Hyten, commander of U.S. Strategic Command, presents a certificate of service to Pat McVay, director of joint exercises, training and assessments, and a Senior Executive Service member, during his retirement ceremony in Bellevue, Neb., July 26, 2019.

Aug. 5, 2019

USSTRATCOM director of joint exercises, training and assessments retires after nearly a half century of dedicated service

BELLEVUE, Neb. — After almost half a century of combined military and federal service, Pat McVay, U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) director of joint exercises, training and assessments (J7), and a Senior Executive Service member for the Department of the Air Force celebrated his retirement July 26, 2019, during a retirement ceremony in Bellevue, Nebraska.McVay,