MECHANICSBURG, Pa. - Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer announced the 2019 winners of the Navy Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial Awards for outstanding food service, Feb. 27.

The annual awards encourage excellence in Navy food service programs with the objective of improving quality of life for Navy personnel.

“What it takes to win the Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial Award, is hard work every day and thinking Ney every day,” said Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial program manager Cheryl Hernandez. “We strive for excellence in Navy food service with the objective of improving the quality of life for our fellow Sailors. Congratulations to the best of the best on a job well done!”

“Our culinary specialists are trained with the latest, most advanced training aids and techniques available in order to effectively support afloat and ashore food service operations,” said Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Wodele, Navy Food Service director at Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP). “Navy food service is critical to mission success; without it ship galleys would not run, food would not be cooked and Sailors would not be fed.”

The 2019 Captain Edward F. Ney afloat winners representing the Navy’s Undersea Enterprise, Surface Warfare Enterprise, and Naval Aviation Enterprise are:

(1) Submarine Category Winner: USS Santa Fe (SSN 763)

(2) Small-Medium Afloat Category Winner: USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26)

(3) Large Afloat Category Winner: USS Boxer (LHD 4)

(4) Aircraft Carrier Category Winner: USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72)

The 2019 Captain Edward F. Ney Ashore General Messes representing Commander, Navy Installations Command are:

(1) Large General Mess Category Winner: Trident Inn Galley, Bangor, Washington

(2) Small General Mess Category Winner: Ristorante Bella Etna Dining Facility, Sigonella, Italy

NAVSUP plans to provide specialized culinary instruction to the winning commands during the awards presentation in May, as well as a week-long training later in the year.

Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP's mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter.