Ellsworth Air Force Base Wins Second Community Partnership Award

For the second time in three years, Ellsworth Air Force Base has captured national recognition for civilian-military collaboration, taking home a top honor at the 2026 Department of the Air Force Community Partnerships Award Ceremony in Tampa, Florida, on October 26, 2026.

The South Dakota installation secured the win thanks to its deep-seated partnership with the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. The collaboration targets critical regional pipelines, spanning science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education alongside targeted workforce training and certificate programs in national security disciplines.

Col. Erick Lord, 28th Bomb Wing commander, pointed directly to the strategic necessity of the local alliance in a statement provided by the base.

This award is more than just a recognition; it’s a testament to the essential relationship established and maintained by Ellsworth Air Force Base and the Black Hills community. Partnerships with institutions like the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology are vital to the long-range strike mission at Ellsworth Air Force Base. They connect our Airmen with leading technical expertise, innovative ideas, and the next generation of problem-solvers who will help us adapt to an increasingly complex security environment.

The latest accolade builds on a precedent set previously by the base. Ellsworth earned prior recognition from the Department of the Air Force Community Partnerships program for teaming up with the West River Electric Association and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. That project brought a $1.2 million battery energy storage system directly onto the installation.

Those paired initiatives make Ellsworth the only military installation to receive multiple DAFCP awards since 2024.

These efforts not only strengthen our mission readiness but also foster a culture of innovation that will benefit this region and the future of the Air Force.