Whiteman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base that is located just south of Knob Noster, Missouri. The base was established in 1942 as the Sedalia Glider Base. Whiteman Air Force Base is a joint-service base as it is home to Air Force, Army, and Navy units. The primary host on the base is the 509th Bomb Wing which is one of only two Air Force units that operation the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. The unit can launch directly from Missouri to any point on the globe to engage adversaries with precision-guided munitions. The B-2 bombers were the first United States aircraft to enter Afghan space after the September 11, 2001 attack. Combat missions in excess of 40 hours were carried out during that time, the longest on record. Units assigned to the Whiteman Air Force Base included the 131st Bomb Wing, the 110th Bomb Squadron, and the 442nd Fighter Wing. Whiteman Air Force Base covers a total of 5.2 square miles and has a current population of 3,800 people.

Weather in the Whiteman Air Force Base area tends to be hot in the summer with temperatures in the 80s and very cold in the winter with the temperatures in the 30s. Annual rainfall in the area is 34 inches with the wettest month being May. July is also the warmest month, and January is the coldest. Local housing options are available nearby in cities such as Knob Noster, Sedalia, and Concordia. Throughout its history, the Whiteman Air Force Base has always been at the forefront of national defense. In February 2010, the 509th Bomb Wing became part of the newly created Air Force Global Strike Command.