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Services defends Hennessy trophy
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 30th Services Division's food service operation once again has the opportunity to prove they're the best when the John L. Hennessy Award team visits here Feb. 22-25.
As the defending champions of the John L. Hennessy Trophy for the Best Food Service Operation in the Air Force, the food service team has not let up in their mission to "provide the highest-level quality of life."
"I can assure you our team of Air Force and contract personnel have not been resting on their laurels," said Calvin Tucker, the 30th Mission Support Group's combat support flight chief. "We relish the opportunity and the honor to once again rise to the challenge and represent Air Force Space Command and Vandenberg Air Force Base in defending the crown of the 'Best of the Best.'"
Since last year's competition, the food service team has made many enhancements to the way they do business. For example, the Life Options, Vocational and Resource Center team became certified by the International Organization for Standardization, making them the only ISO certified food service contractor in the Air Force. ISO certification enhances service to customers by incorporating the Plan, Do, Check, Act model in compliance with environmental and regulatory objectives.
"We also improved our training program," said Ellen Weaver, the Breakers Dining Facility manager here. "With our safety training, we've had 273 days without a lost-time accident."
Other highlights include: food service supervisors have incorporated guideline cards and quizzes to reinforce culinary skills; Ed Trevino, the quality assurance evaluator, has implemented procedures above and beyond the production log requirements by documenting the times popular entrees began to be scarce to improve historical data; and the food service team conducted an inquiry into proper use of leftovers, which generated new guidelines from Air Force food service to the field.
"We are ready and anxious to show the Hennessy Team what we can do," Mrs. Weaver said. "We do it the 'Hennessy Way, Every Meal, Every Day.'"
The annual competition is named in honor of John L. Hennessy, who was recognized as one of the nation's most capable and respected leaders in the hotel and restaurant field. In 1943, President Theodore Roosevelt appointed John L. Hennessy as Chairman of the War Food committee to develop food service systems capable of sustaining millions of military personnel. The result of the committee's efforts was the establishment of the Hennessy trophy as the highest Air Force award given for food service excellence.