OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. –
U.S. Navy Capt. Meghan Bodnar, Deputy Director of Operations at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and Dr. Franklin Damann, DPAA Nebraska Lab Director, joined Offutt Air Force Base leaders, civic partners, and elected officials during the base’s inaugural Honorary Commander Induction on Jan. 21, 2026, underscoring how local engagement can advance DPAA’s global mission.
The event brought together community leaders from the Omaha and Offutt area as part of a newly established Honorary Commander program designed to strengthen relationships between the installation and the surrounding civilian community. The program pairs local leaders with military units, creating opportunities for dialogue, education, and sustained advocacy beyond the base gates.
Among those inducted was Nebraska State Senator Rita Sanders, who will serve as the DPAA Honorary Commander and continue her role as a strong supporter of DPAA’s mission. Senator Sanders has long demonstrated an interest in national defense issues and remains a reliable advocate for efforts to account for U.S. personnel still missing from past conflicts. "It is a profound honor to be inducted as an Honorary Commander and to deepen my support for the vital mission of the DPAA. For decades, families have awaited answers about their loved ones, and DPAA's tireless work to bring our missing personnel home is a sacred national promise.” Said Senator Sanders. “This program strengthens the bond between our community and the dedicated Service members at Offutt, and I am committed to advocating for the partnerships necessary to ensure we fulfill that promise to every family still waiting."
During the event, Senator Sanders introduced DPAA leadership to U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts, who was also in attendance. DPAA leadership described current recovery and identification efforts involving Philippine Scout service members from World War II and the significant challenges posed by limited access to family reference sample documentation. These records are essential for validating service and identity, and their absence continues to slow identification and repatriation efforts for families who have waited decades for answers.
The discussion highlighted how DPAA’s mission often depends on partnerships well beyond recovery sites and forensic laboratories. Progress can hinge on diplomatic relationships, international cooperation, and informed advocacy at the highest levels, sometimes sparked by conversations at events like the Honorary Commander induction.
“Programs like the Honorary Commander ceremony create meaningful connections between our military and the communities that support us," said Bodnar. "By bringing civic leaders closer to the mission, we help them better understand the work DPAA conducts around the world to account for our unaccounted U.S. personnel. That understanding often turns into advocacy and support that can help move cases forward. Partnerships like these remind us that this mission is not carried out by the military alone. It is a national commitment shared by communities, leaders, and families who all play a role in helping us pursue the fullest possible accounting for those still missing from our nation's past conflicts.”
As DPAA continues its work around the world, engagements with civic leaders, state officials, and members of Congress remain critical. These relationships help ensure awareness of the complex challenges facing accounting efforts and reinforce the shared commitment to providing the fullest possible accounting for U.S. personnel still missing from past conflicts.