State, Military Leaders Cut Ribbon to Joint Force Center

By: Bonney Bowman - Email

Updated: Tue 10:54 PM, Oct 02, 2012

State and military leaders gathered Tuesday to officially open the new Nebraska National Guard Joint Force Center.

The state of the art building will house the Nebraska Army and Air National Guard, the State Emergency Management Agency, and a State Patrol dispatch center.

Governor Dave Heineman says, "Our citizens depend on us to coordinate and quickly respond when lives and properties are at risk. This facility will allow closer coordination of services to provide immediate and faster response times."

The 140,000 square foot, $28 million building replaces a 1960's, Cold War-era bunker.

Inside, it's all energy-efficient, modern technology, which state officials say will allow the 365 employees who call it home to better do their jobs.

US Senator Ben Nelson says, "In the event of a disaster, this joint headquarters facility will buzz with activity providing a quicker, more thorough and better coordinated local, state and federal response."

Commanders say what's important about this facility is it's not Army green, it's not Air Force blue; it's what's known as purple and that means members of every military and emergency management branch are working together to better serve the people of Nebraska.

Leaders also say it's a worthy home base for the state's military men and women.

US Representative Jeff Fortenberry says, "Whether in the deserts of Iraq or the mountains of Afghanistan or responding to emergencies in our own state, our citizen soldiers have passed with flying colors and we owe them our everlasting gratitude."

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