Aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) hosted judges for the 2016 Capt. Edward F. Ney Awards inspections, Nov. 10.

The Capt. Edward F. Ney Awards were established in 1958 by the secretary of the Navy and the International Food Service Executives Association to honor the memory of Ney, who served as the head of the Subsistence Division of the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts between 1940 and 1945.

GW distinguished itself as the top east coast carrier for its Food Service Division and will compete against the top west coast carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Both crews were tested in a final food service evaluation in November.

"We get judged from a lot of angles for the Ney," said Seaman Ashontaye Gadson, junior cook in the aft galley. "How we prepare food, how we serve, garnishes, presentation, cleanliness, cargo, and the supply administration office are all inspectable."

The Ney Award was created to assess various aspects of a ship's food services, and is designed to improve food service operations and recognize the best general messes in the Navy.

The weeks leading up to the competition judging can be a busy time for many Sailors aboard George Washington; however, the pride most leave with is irreplaceable.

"It's huge," said Petty Officer 1st Class Anthony Scott, senior cook in the aft galley. "For our cooks, this competition is a culmination of all of the hard work they do. We, as galley leaders, hope that they can get a Ney Award because it just feels so good to get the recognition in an otherwise thankless job."

Winning the award would also allow GW culinary specialists the chance to receive additional education while training with professionals.

"If we win the award, we will get the chance to send some of our CSs (culinary specialists) to several different culinary and food service schools," said Chief Warrant Officer 3rd Class Phillip Davis, GW's food service officer. "Those CSs would then have the opportunity to come back to the ship andbring those lessons and procedures with them. They'll then be able to use what they've learned to make an even better galley by teaching others the things they have learned."

The winner of the Ney Award will be announced between December and January.

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