OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. – U.S. Strategic Command officials and Nebraska community leaders cut the ceremonial ribbon to the Global Innovation and Strategy Center's new facility Sept. 15.

"I think it's appropriate that a community, with this kind of history, is now home to an organization dedicated to shaping STRATCOM's future," said Walter Scott of the Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation.

Co-located on the University of Nebraska at Omaha south campus with the Scott Technology Center, the 43,400 square foot GISC facility has access to Omaha's unique fiber-optic capabilities, robust construction, and proximity to the Peter Kiewit Institute -- a National Security Agency designated Center of Excellence.

"We have all this information that we capture in a variety of ways in various agencies," said Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman. "We need a way in the future to share information across agencies, across jurisdictions in a meaningful and timely manner." USSTRATCOM Global Innovation and Strategy Center opens doors Sept. 15 2/2/2

The GISC's new location in the community and its expanded mission will help USSTRATCOM provide non-traditional solutions to challenges by linking flexible networks of experts from sectors of the private community together with government agencies.

According to Kevin Williams, GISC director, the concept for the GISC is "straight forward."

� Establishing a lean, agile, responsive and highly collaborative organization focused on discovering what the tough challenges are;

� Forming teams of leading experts and creative people to address those challenges; and

� Transitioning information into solutions for the customer.

"This is a very different world we live in," said Gen. James Cartwright, USSTRATCOM commander. "It demands different solutions. That is the nexus [which] brings us to Omaha."

The expanded GISC mission is to provide collaboration between Department of Defense and the private sector serving as a bridge between traditional and non-traditional sources of information. The GISC will link experts, tools, databases, relationships and other resources together to produce integrated, broad-based solutions.

"Diversity is our strength," said Cartwright. "Reaching out to all these different communities is what is critical to be able to come up with solutions that will outwit any perceived adversary we may have.

"We have got to have 21st Century solutions for 21st century problems."

For more information, call USSTRATCOM Public Affairs at (402) 294-4130 or visit www.stratcom.mil.