Travis dining facility wins Hennessy award for best food service in Air Force

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Candy Knight
  • 60th AMW Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  For the first time ever, Travis’ Food Service facility has been named the best in the Air Force. 

Air Force officials announced March 30 that the Sierra Inn Dining Facility won the 2006 Air Force Hennessy Award for having the best food service program in the Air Force. 

“It hasn’t set in yet,” Master Sgt. Edward Valledor, facility manager, said about winning. “We’re still in awe.” 

Considered the “Super Bowl” of Air Force food service awards, the Hennessy award evaluates an installation’s entire food-service program. 

Competitors must show excellence on every aspect of food service including overall appearance, customer service and satisfaction, management effectiveness, force-readiness support, food quality, resource conservation, training and safety awareness. 

According to Sergeant Valledor, winning the award is a team-effort. 

“If we didn’t have a good working relationship with the entire Travis Team, especially the 60th Civil Engineer Squadron, 349th Memorial Affairs Squadron and PRIDE Industries, winning would’ve been impossible,” he said. 

In addition to the Hennessy award, the entire food service team was recognized as “outstanding performers.” 

“This is really unprecedented. I’ve spoken to people who have been in this business for over 20 years and they’ve never heard of this happening before. It just shows that it’s our great people who really make Services shine,” said Maj. Tim Telega, 60th SVS commander. 

Col. Lyn Sherlock, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander, echoed the sentiment saying, “Congratulations to 60th Services Squadron and the Food Service Team for winning the Hennessy award. Being named the ‘Best in the Air Force’ is truly an honor and a great testament to all the hard work the Airmen, NCOs, officers, civilians and contractors do every day.” 

Major Telega says they will continue improving on the quality of service provided to the Travis Team. 

“We’re really close to finishing the Internet Café. Our goal is to have a place where Airmen can check their personal email or check out an article from their hometown news after eating their meal,” he said.