USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) won the 2010 Navy Capt. Edward F. Ney Memorial Award, claiming first place among all U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.

The Ney award was established to recognize the best general messes in the Navy by the Secretary of the Navy and the International Food Service Executives Association in 1958.

To win the award, Stennis underwent a rigorous food service inspection and competed against other carriers from the west coast before beating out east coast winner USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

The food inspectors graded Stennis on food quality and taste as well as proper storage, inventory and preparation of the food. S2 division spent long hours preparing for the inspection by accurate records keeping, continuous training and equipment maintenance.

“My guys have worked really hard for a long time, and to be selected as the 2010 Ney award winner makes it all worthwhile,” said Senior Chief Culinary Specialist (SW/AW) Todd Mears. “We won the award by working together as a team and keeping things simple.”

On April 17, several Stennis culinary specialists will embark on a four day trip to attend the Joint Military and International Food Service Executives Association (IFSEA) conference in Reno, Nev. There, the culinary specialists will accept the Ney Award, on behalf of the command from Rear Adm. Mike Lyden, Naval Supply Systems Command.

Several of the culinary specialists visiting the conference will also attend a culinary school in St. Augustine, Fla.

“I’m very proud of the CSs who were selected for school,” said Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Matelita Bolevakadinata. “They put a lot of time into it, and the school is payback for them. It’s a great reward for all their hard work.”

The culinary course will last 21 days at First Coast Community College and will give culinary specialists from Stennis and other Ney awarded commands a chance to strengthen their culinary trade in a classroom environment.

“I believe that the chain of command enabled Stennis to receive this award,” said Bolevakadinata. “The CO, XO and CMC have much concern for Sailor’s health, well-being and quality of life, and their concern motivates the culinary specialists to do the best that they can at their job.”

After all the effort that was put into the preparation for this award, Supply department can boast that the mess decks aboard Stennis have been judged the best in the carrier fleet.