Outstanding Navy Food Service Winners Named

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (NNS) (2/29/2008) -- Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter has announced the 2008 winners of the Navy Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial Awards for outstanding food service.

Winter announced the winners in an ALNAV message Feb. 5.

"This year marks the 50th anniversary of this prestigious program. My personal congratulations to the following outstanding food service teams that represent the Navy's warfare enterprises," Winter said.

First-place winners will be recognized during the Joint Military and International Food Service Executives Association awards presentation April 5, in Denver, Colo. Rear Adm. Alan S. Thompson, commander, Naval Supply Systems Command, will speak at a special Ney 50th Anniversary Luncheon the same day.

Ney Afloat general mess winners are:

Submarine category:
First place: USS Louisiana (Blue) (SSBN 743)
Runner up: USS Rhode Island (Gold) (SSBN 740)
Honorable mention: USS Maine (Gold) (SSBN 741)

Small Afloat category:
First place: USS Jarrett (FFG 33)
Runner up: USS Nicholas (FFG 47)

Medium Afloat category:
First place: USS Germantown (LSD 42)
Runner up: USS Russell (DDG 59)
Honorable mention: USS Vicksburg (CG 69)

Large Afloat category:
First place: USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19)
Runner up: USS Emory S. Land (AS 39)

Aircraft Carrier category:
First place: USS Nimitz (CVN 68)
Runner up: USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)

Ney Ashore general mess winners are:

Continental U.S. General Mess category:
First place: Naval Weapons Station Charleston, S.C.
Runner up: Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif.

Overseas General Mess category:
First place: Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan
Runner up: Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy

"Sailors consistently recognize the Navy food service program as an important benefit. It affects the health of our Sailors, morale, and retention," said Capt. David M. Fitzgerald, deputy commander, Navy Family Support, Naval Supply. "These annual awards foster excellence in food service across the Navy Enterprise while improving the quality of life for our Navy personnel."

"I wholeheartedly commend our winners for their hard work and commitment to excellence," Fitzgerald added.

The Ney Memorial Awards Program is co-sponsored by the Secretary of the Navy and IFSEA. IFSEA is a nonprofit food service association dedicated to enhancing the professional image and growth of persons serving the food service industry. The awards encourage excellence in Navy food service programs, with the objective of improving the quality of life for our Navy personnel.

The evaluation teams were made up of senior Navy culinary specialists and IFSEA representatives. In addition to recognizing Navy food service winners, the ceremony also recognizes other food service excellence winners in the 40th Philip A. Connelly Awards (Army) presentation, 14th Coast Guard Awards presentation, and 16th Captain David M. Cook Military Sealift Command Awards presentation.

NAVSUP's primary mission is to provide U.S. naval forces with quality supplies and services. With headquarters in Mechanicsburg, Pa., and employing a worldwide workforce of more than 25,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP oversees logistics programs in the areas of supply operations, conventional ordnance, contracting, resale, fuel, transportation, and security assistance.

For more news from Naval Supply Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navsup/.