The U.S. Strategic Command has finished 86 percent of the “missionization” phase for the unit’s new $1.3B headquarters at Offut Air Force Base near Omaha and Nebraska, the Omaha World-Herald reported Tuesday.
The second phase involves installing communications and electronics systems in the 916,000-square foot complex to support STRATCOM missions such as missile defense, electronic warfare, space operations and nuclear activities. The command broke ground with the facility in 2012 and was originally slated to open on Sept. 11, 2016. Repair work and natural disturbances such as flooding, fires and a tornado have resulted in the project being over budget by $53M and delayed for two years.Â
Vice Adm. David Kriete, deputy commander of STRATCOM, said he expects to transfer the first batch of the command’s over 3,500 military and civilian personnel to the facility in early spring. He said that he plans to move the rest of the staff by the end of 2019.