The US military presence in the state is concentrated near Omaha, where Offutt Air Force Base serves as the headquarters of the US Strategic Air Command. In 2002, Nebraska firms were awarded $190.9 million in defense contracts. In the same year, there were 7,793 active-duty military personnel and 3,365 civilian personnel stationed in Nebraska.
A total of 173,189 veterans of US military service resided in Nebraska as of 2000. Of these, 33,450 served in World War II; 24,117 in the Korean conflict; 50,708 in the Vietnam era; and 21,751 during 1990–2000 (including the Persian Gulf War). In 2002, a total of more than $424 million was spent on veterans' benefits.
In 2000, the Nebraska State Patrol employed 462 full-time sworn officers.