NAB Little Creek Galley Wins Ney Award
Release Date: 2/7/2007 3:09:00 PM By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph R. Wax
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- The galley at Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Little Creek was named the first place winner in the
Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial Awards Program for Food Service Excellence on Feb. 2.
NAB Little Creek’s galley took the top spot in the continental United States general mess category. The annual awards, co-
sponsored by the International Food Service Executives Association (IFSEA), encourage excellence in Navy food service programs
with the objective of improving the quality of life for Navy personnel.
“Our Little Creek mission is to contribute to maximum military readiness by providing the best installation customer service possible,”
said Capt. William Crow, commanding officer of NAB Little Creek. “Winning this award is a testament to the high standards of the
galley’s team of professionals. Little Creek is an exceptionally outstanding base and the galley has now set the benchmark for all
service providers on base to emulate.”
The road to Ney award glory began long before any recognition was given. The participating galleys started by doing self-
assessments to help spot improvements that could be made. After lots of hard work, the best from each region were compared to
one another and a champion was named.
According to Culinary Specialist Seaman Apprentice James Mauroni, a member of the NAB Little Creek galley staff, they beat out 74
competitors to be awarded this year’s prize.
“To be recognized outside of the facility is a great source of pride,” said Chief Culinary Specialist (SW/AW) Tom McConville, the NAB
Little Creek galley supervisor. “It was a team effort. The crew behind me did a fantastic job.”
Achieving an award of this stature took a lot of work by a large number of people.
“We did a lot of self-improvement projects on the grounds and inside of the building,” stated McConville. “MWR (Morale, Welfare
and Recreation) did a lot of work and the base helped us out tremendously. The region also was a guiding force.”
The award was also the result of an everyday atmosphere that the 30 military and 35 civilian workers at NAB Little Creek’s galley try
to create.
“It was an absolute team effort,” said Culinary Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Timothy Lalli. “The military and civilians all worked together
to provide the best service we could.”
According to the patrons, the staff’s effort is paying off.
“It’s good and it’s quick,” said Army Spc. Joseph Miller. “I’m able to get in, get my food and relax.”
Miller and all the other people who frequent the NAB Little Creek galley don’t have to worry about this award making the staff
complacent.
“We have the potential and we want to win back-to-back,” stated McConville.
The galley staff’s efforts past and present are noticed all the way up the chain of command.
“There is no one who is any prouder of their shipmates than am I,” said Crow. “It is very gratifying to know that our food service
Sailors and civilians run the best eating establishment in the entire Navy.”
Those commands earning first place honors will be recognized at the IFSEA conference during a ceremony March 31, in Kansas
City, Mo.
Other winners from the Hampton Roads area include: the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), runner-up aircraft
carrier category; the guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), first place medium afloat category; and the amphibious
assault ship USS Saipan (LHA 2), runner-up large afloat category.
Release Date: 2/7/2007 3:09:00 PM By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph R. Wax
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- The galley at Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Little Creek was named the first place winner in the
Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial Awards Program for Food Service Excellence on Feb. 2.
NAB Little Creek’s galley took the top spot in the continental United States general mess category. The annual awards, co-
sponsored by the International Food Service Executives Association (IFSEA), encourage excellence in Navy food service programs
with the objective of improving the quality of life for Navy personnel.
“Our Little Creek mission is to contribute to maximum military readiness by providing the best installation customer service possible,”
said Capt. William Crow, commanding officer of NAB Little Creek. “Winning this award is a testament to the high standards of the
galley’s team of professionals. Little Creek is an exceptionally outstanding base and the galley has now set the benchmark for all
service providers on base to emulate.”
The road to Ney award glory began long before any recognition was given. The participating galleys started by doing self-
assessments to help spot improvements that could be made. After lots of hard work, the best from each region were compared to
one another and a champion was named.
According to Culinary Specialist Seaman Apprentice James Mauroni, a member of the NAB Little Creek galley staff, they beat out 74
competitors to be awarded this year’s prize.
“To be recognized outside of the facility is a great source of pride,” said Chief Culinary Specialist (SW/AW) Tom McConville, the NAB
Little Creek galley supervisor. “It was a team effort. The crew behind me did a fantastic job.”
Achieving an award of this stature took a lot of work by a large number of people.
“We did a lot of self-improvement projects on the grounds and inside of the building,” stated McConville. “MWR (Morale, Welfare
and Recreation) did a lot of work and the base helped us out tremendously. The region also was a guiding force.”
The award was also the result of an everyday atmosphere that the 30 military and 35 civilian workers at NAB Little Creek’s galley try
to create.
“It was an absolute team effort,” said Culinary Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Timothy Lalli. “The military and civilians all worked together
to provide the best service we could.”
According to the patrons, the staff’s effort is paying off.
“It’s good and it’s quick,” said Army Spc. Joseph Miller. “I’m able to get in, get my food and relax.”
Miller and all the other people who frequent the NAB Little Creek galley don’t have to worry about this award making the staff
complacent.
“We have the potential and we want to win back-to-back,” stated McConville.
The galley staff’s efforts past and present are noticed all the way up the chain of command.
“There is no one who is any prouder of their shipmates than am I,” said Crow. “It is very gratifying to know that our food service
Sailors and civilians run the best eating establishment in the entire Navy.”
Those commands earning first place honors will be recognized at the IFSEA conference during a ceremony March 31, in Kansas
City, Mo.
Other winners from the Hampton Roads area include: the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), runner-up aircraft
carrier category; the guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), first place medium afloat category; and the amphibious
assault ship USS Saipan (LHA 2), runner-up large afloat category.
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| Virginia Beach, Va. (Feb. 6, 2007) - Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Eric Williams prepares eggs for the breakfast crowd. Gator Inn, the Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek galley, was awarded first place in the continental U.S. ashore general mess category of the 2007 Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial Award for food service excellence. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Ash Severe (RELEASED) |