Thirty Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) and their families attended a celebratory dinner to honor this year's Stennis Center awards winners Nov. 19.

The Stennis Awards are presented annually to an officer, chief petty officer and junior Sailor serving aboard Ike who best exemplifies the vision, integrity, courage, commitment to duty and hard work of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Capt. Paul Spedero Jr., Ike's commanding officer, and Rex Buffington, the executive director of the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service, presented the following awards: Ensign Gerardo Arbulu, Ike's personnel officer, received the Five Star Leadership Award; Master Chief Culinary Specialist Sandra Almond, Ike's food services leading chief petty officer, received the Waging Peace Award; and Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 1st Class Seth R. Thompson, Ike's Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Control (AIMD) production control leading petty officer, received the Spirit of Freedom Award.

Spedero said Arbulu's leadership proves that he holds not only himself, but the others around him to very high standards.

"It is indicative of his leadership that everyone, including himself, will give maximum effort until the job is done," Spedero said. "Ensign Arbulu holds everyone he works with accountable, and that is true leadership."

Spedero was also honored to recognize Almond's hard work on behalf of the ship.

"Master Chief Almond sets the example daily for her Sailors that inspires them to give their best effort and she takes pride in ensuring every Sailor succeeds," Spedero said. "Under her leadership, the food service on board Ike has excelled, which not only affects the Sailors who work for her, but the morale of the entire Ike crew."

Almond, who is nearing retirement, felt that the award was justification for doing everything that she felt was right during her extensive career.

"I do it all for the junior Sailors," Almond said. "When I first joined, the chiefs and officers had everything. So I took it upon myself to make sure that the junior enlisted were taken care of."
After the awards were presented, Buffington said he takes pride in identifying the leaders serving aboard Ike and celebrating their performance.

"It's a great opportunity to recognize outstanding leaders for the work they do aboard the ship," Buffington said. "Their commitment to molding others is proof that there are still leaders willing to put in the effort it takes to ensure progression in the world."

Each Stennis Award winner received a crystal eagle trophy and a trip to Washington, D.C., to meet members of congress and other top government leaders.

For more news from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), visit www.navy.mil/.