Fort Report: Strategic Command

Perhaps you’ve seen it right south of Omaha in Bellevue: a massive hole in the ground. Bulldozers have been moving dirt there throughout the winter. It’s fenced in—a bit out of public view but certainly no secret. The construction site marks the new headquarters of Strategic Command, now overseen by a new Strategic Commander, Admiral Cecil Haney. Soon the hole will hold the nerve center of our country’s nuclear command. 

Strategic Command is a linchpin of global security. Its purpose is to prevent the spread and use of weapons of mass destruction and to protect America by deterring nuclear war. Its core mission: ensuring peace across our interconnected world.

Established in 1946 as Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air Force Base, USSTRATCOM was created to detect, deter, and prevent nuclear attacks against the U.S. In 1992, it was charged with taking a broader role in nuclear security with an emphasis on systems modernization. Today, USSTRATCOM also has responsibility for meeting new challenges in space, building cyberspace capability and capacity, preparing for uncertainty, and partnering with other combatant commands as necessary. 

In Congress I chair the Nuclear Security Working Group. This group focuses on essential national security issues, including the prevention of nuclear proliferation—an increasing concern in a time of rapid globalization. An interconnected world is an interdependent world. Given rising international tensions and emerging technological threats, nuclear security is no longer a problem that one-on-one government arrangements can solve. Earlier this year, National Journal hosted a panel discussion with thought leaders on the need to secure loose nuclear materials and Congress’ role in nuclear nonproliferation. We delved into the complex spectrum of concerns regarding nuclear security at this moment in our history. You can watch the video of the event by clicking here. 

Stopping the spread of nuclear weapons is one of the most serious issues facing our world in the 21st century. North Korea is again threatening to test its technology. China is aggressively expanding its military capability. Iran is confronting mounting international pressure and will soon be forced to make a decision about its nuclear program. Rather than working concerns through normal diplomatic channels, Moscow has reengaged its ever ancient, ever new desire for reviving the Russian Empire through its provocative actions in Ukraine.

Some good news is that the list of countries with nuclear material has fallen by half in the past 20 years. But the technology continues to spread. Strategic Command will play a leading role in deterring and countering threats through force strength while also working to reduce the probability of the use of nuclear weapons to as close to zero as we can get.