The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC is endorsing the 94th Combat Veteran For Congress in 5 years; he is a fiscally conservative candidate who will work to rein in the out of control spending by the irresponsible members of Congress and the Obama administration.  He will work to reduce the national debt, to unleash the private sector to grow once again, create jobs, and stimulate private sector business investment; he believes in an efficient government that serves the people and upholds the highest standard of integrity and transparency.  Lieutenant Commander Shane Osborn, USNR of Waterloo, Nebraska is running to represent Nebraska in the US Senate, to fill the seat vacated by incumbent Republican Senator Mike Johanns who is not running for re-election. www.ShaneOsborn.com  Shane Osborn was born on June 21, 1974 in Mitchell, South Dakota; the family moved to Norfolk, Nebraska and Shane was raised there.  Shane graduated from Norfolk High School in Norfolk, Nebraska in May 1992.  He then he matriculated at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska on an NROTC Scholarship, and graduated in May, 1996 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics and Statistics.

Upon graduation from the University of Nebraska, on May 31, 1996, Shane was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy.  In September 1996, Ensign Osborn received orders to flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, then in February 1997 he went on to advanced flight training at Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas.  In May 1998 Ensign Osborne completed primary, intermediate, and advance flight training; he was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade in June 1998, and also received his Wings of Gold in May 1998.  In September 1998, Ensign Osborn received orders to Corry Station, Pensacola for Crypto School, then reported to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida for P-3 training.  In February 1999 Lt(jg) Osborne completed SERE training, and received orders to VQ-1 to fly EP-3s (the reconnaissance version of the P-3) at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.

In May 1999, Lt (jg) Osborn deployed with VQ-1 to Bahrain aboard an EP-3 and subsequently deployed in September 1999 for duty in Misawa and Okinawa, Japan.   In February 2000 VQ-1 returned to Bahrain and in May 2000, Lt (jg) Osborn was promoted to Lieutenant, was assigned as a Mission Commander/Senior Pilot at VQ-1, and deployed for duty in Misawa, Japan and Kadena US Air Force Base on Okinawa.  In August 2000, VQ-1 returned to Bahrain and in November 2000, VQ-1 deployed to Manta, Ecuador on Plan Columbia Operations, returning to Okinawa in February 2001.   From February through March 2001 VQ-1 flew missions on the periphery of mainland China and North Korea.  On April 1, 2001, Lt Osborn was the recipient of worldwide notoriety as the Navy Lieutenant who was flying a reconnaissance mission in international airspace over the Pacific Ocean in the vicinity of mainland China, when a Chinese MIG fighter collided with Lt Osborne’s EP-3.  Lt Osborne successfully piloted his heavily damaged and crippled EP-3 to a safe landing on Hainan Island, China thus saving the lives of the 23 members of his crew.  Lt Osborn and his 23 man crew were held hostage and interrogated by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) military interrogators for 12 days.  They were subject to very vigorous interrogation and sleep deprivation; Lt Osborn and his entire crew were released on April 12, 2001. For his heroic action in saving the lives of his crew Lt Osborn was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the EP-3 unit and crew were awarded the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation.   In November 2001, Lt Osborn voluntarily extended his tour of duty and returned to Bahrain flying missions over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom through February 2002.  Lt Osborn was awarded the Air Medal , and Service and Campaign Medals for his combat tour.      

From May 2002 to February 2004 he was assigned as an Instructor at VT-10 at Pensacola Naval Air Station, Florida.    In the mid-air collision with the Chinese MIG Lt Osborn tore his shoulder apart and had to go thru several surgeries. On return to CONUS in February 2004, Lt Osborn received orders to report as a Board Member of the Discharge Review Board in the Navy Yard, Washington, DC so he could be available go thru a number of surgeries at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.  LT Shane Osborn, USN was honorably discharged from the US Navy at Anacostia Naval Air Station on May 1, 2005 and he accepted a commission as a Lieutenant in the US Naval Reserves.  Lt Osborne was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in the US Naval Reserve September 2005; he resigned his Naval Reserve commission in November 2005.  Lcdr Osborn awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal,  the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Battle “E” Ribbon, and various Service and Campaign Medals. 

Upon release from the Navy in May 2005, Shane was self-employed as an entrepreneur with his own business. In 2006 Shane ran for Treasurer of the State of Nebraska, was elected to that state wide office, and served in that capacity from 2007 to 2011.  In 2011, Shane helped establish a financial services company and was the Chief Marketing Officer/Partner for Academy Securities (a Service Disabled Veterans Owned Broker/Dealer focuses on hiring returning Combat Veterans post 9/11, giving them more than just a job, a career.  In 2011, Shane also founded the Nebraska Soldier’s Foundation to help military families cope with the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) , and is an active fundraiser for the Navy Special Warfare Family Foundation which provides support for Navy SEALs and their families. 

Shane Osborn is a lifetime member of the NRA, the VFW, the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, American Ex-POWs, Distinguished Flying Cross Society, and the University of Nebraska Alumni Association.  Shane has been endorsed by former Chinese Ambassador and Pacific Commander Admiral Joseph Prueher, USN (Ret), MajGen Roger Lempke, USAFA ’69, USAF (Ret) former Adjutant General of Nebraska, FreedomWorks, Jim Cada President of the Nebraska State Veterans Home Board, University of Nebraska Veterans Council, Robert Swanson founding member and past Commander of American Legion Riders of Omaha Post 1,  National Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans Coalition, Nebraska Right to Life, Lt Col Doug Whitaker VFW Department of Nebraska Judge Advocate, national syndicated TV host Rick Amato, Eagle Forum Founder Phyllis Schlafly, Concerned Women of America, TV the National Defense PAC, and the Combat Veterans For Congress PAC.  Shane attends Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkhorn, and has been married to his wife Stacie of 3 years; they have four children Avery age 16, Isabella age 9, Alyssa age 7, and Addison age 6. 

If you review Lcdr Shane Osborn, USNR various positions on issues, you would be pleased with his stands; they agree with the Combat Veterans For Congress Mission Statement.  The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC are pleased to endorse Lcdr Osborn, look forward to working with him, and are pleased that a Combat Veteran of his caliber is running for the U.S. Senate in Nebraska.  If you have friends, associates, or relatives who know voters in the state of Nebraska, kindly pass this email onto them and ask them to support Lcdr Osborn by working in his campaign, providing financial support for his campaign in any amount, and/or by networking with others who would be willing to support his campaign.  The military is one of the few remaining institutions producing the caliber of men and women needed to restore this nation to the greatness our Founding Fathers envisioned.  We have endorsed another Combat Veteran For Congress that General George Washington would have approved of.  He is a Veteran who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States ofAmerica” for an amount “up to and including his life.”