USS Abraham Lincoln Gets 2012 Ney Award for Supply Excellence

 

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) received the 2012 Edward F. Ney Memorial Award for outstanding food service for the category of aircraft carriers Feb. 3.

Last October, Ney officials visited various Food Services locations aboard Lincoln in order to evaluate the division’s efficiency, safety, accuracy, management and budgeting skills. A short time after the inspection, the Navy announced the ship had been selected as a finalist in the carrier class award category.

The Ney Memorial Awards Program is co-sponsored by the Secretary of the Navy and the Internal Food Service Executives Association (IFSEA) to recognize quality food and customer service in both shore and afloat commands. The goal of the award is to improve the quality of life for Navy personnel.

First place winners and runners up are scheduled to be recognized during an IFSEA conference, March 31, in San Diego. Awards will be presented during the joint military and IFSEA excellence in food service awards ceremony that evening.

This year marks the fifth time that Lincoln has won the Ney award, also winning in 1998, 2002, 2003 and 2009. Lincoln was runner up in 1999 and 2006.

Knowing the difficulty of winning the award, Lincoln’s crew understands the privilege of being recognized.

“It was an honor just to be nominated,” said Senior Chief Culinary Specialist Philip Sannicolas. “And winning shows that our team really has the passion to do this on a daily basis.”

The award is named for Capt. Edward Francis Ney, an enlisted Sailor during World War I who later earned his commission as a supply officer. His work resolving difficulties within the military’s food service industry during World War II contributed to a higher standard of rationing in the Navy.

The Ney Award is awarded to the best of the best, but it’s not only a competition,” said Chief Warrant Officer David Webb, a Ney inspector. “It’s a guideline for everyday business about the mess decks.

Sannicolas said the award was made possible by the support of the command and the hard work of the ship’s Food Services personnel.

“We were nominated for our dedication to food service for the ship’s crew each day,” said Sannicolas. “All of our hours of hard work in preparation for the assessment paid off.”

Lincoln is part of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (ALCSG), which also includes the guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71), embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, including the guided-missile destroyers USS Momsen (DDG 92) and USS Sterett (DDG 104). ALCSG is currently deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

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Naval Today Staff , February 07, 2012