EAST CHINA SEA- The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) was named the 2015 Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial Award winner March 20.

The Captain Edward F. Ney Award for food service excellence is given annually to Navy galleys of each category of ship and shore command that earn a five-star rating in a one-day inspection. The objective is to improve the quality of life for Navy personnel and recognize the best general messes in the Navy.

"It is an absolute honor to be selected for the Ney award and I am extremely proud of Bonhomme Richard's Food Service Team," said Cmdr. Terrel Fisher, Bonhomme Richard's supply officer. "Forward-deployed Naval Forces is an extremely fast-paced, challenging environment and it's great to see our daily focus on safety, sanitation and procedural compliance rewarded with this most prestigious award."

Bonhomme Richard underwent a thorough inspection of their food service division Dec. 9 which evaluated the criteria for the award including: cleanliness, food quality, organization, inventory, galley presentation and culinary specialist job proficiency.

"It's just a true testament of all the hard work and effort that all the young men and women, the Sailors and Marines, do for the crew of BHR, whether we're in homeport or deployed," said Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Delacruz, Bonhomme Richard's food service officer. "It's an awesome accomplishment for my team, so I'm very proud of each and every one of them."

This is the second Ney award for Bonhomme Richard, and the first since 2002.

"It feels great to get this award," said Culinary Specialist 1st Class Ryan Palaganas, S-2 division's leading petty officer. "This is only the second time Bonhomme Richard has participated, and won on both occasions."

Master Chief Culinary Specialist Felipe Tubera, S-2 leading chief petty officer, credits his division's victory to one guiding principle.

"Ownership...with ownership you have the care of the department", said Tubera. "If there's no ownership, it's just not going to happen."

Bonhomme Richard is currently underway in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.


For more news from USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), visit www.navy.mil/.