Thunderbird Inn among top three DFACs competing for Hennessy Award

A Hennessy evaluator monitors a meal service at the Thunderbird Inn at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., Jan. 22, 2019. Kirtland's food service program is on of nine in the running for the Hennessy Trophy for best food service program in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Austin J. Prisbrey)

Thunderbird Inn among top three DFACs competing for Hennessy Award

Hennessy Travelers discuss the evaluation of the Thunderbird Inn at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., Jan. 22, 2019. The four-member Hennessy Traveler team is made up of two experienced enlisted members from the Air Force Services Activity and two civilians from the National Restaurant Association. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Austin J. Prisbrey)

AFSVA hits the road to select best in food service programs

Published Jan. 24, 2019
By Air Force Services Activity

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, TEXAS -- Civilian and military evaluators hit the road recently to determine which Air Force installations have the best food service programs and which will earn the coveted Hennessy Trophy.

Air Force Services Activity, who manages the program, announced the installations in the running for the 2019 Air Force John L. Hennessy Award, divided by region, last month.

Finalists are:

Region 1
55th Force Support Squadron, Offutt AFB, Nebraska (Air Combat Command)
96th Force Support Squadron, Eglin AFB, Florida (Air Force Materiel Command)
1st Special Operations Force Support Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida (Air Force Special Operations Command)
45th Force Support Squadron, Patrick AFB, Florida (Air Force Space Command)
496th Force Support Squadron, Morón Air Base, Spain (U.S. Air Forces in Europe)
19th Force Support Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas (Air Mobility Command)

Region 2
377th Force Support Squadron, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico (Air Force Global Strike Command)
97th Force Support Squadron, Altus AFB, Oklahoma (Air Education and Training Command)
354th Force Support Squadron, Eielson AB, Alaska (Pacific Air Forces)

Hennessy Traveler teams, made up of AFSVA food service experts and members of the National Restaurant Association Foundation, are on the road through the end of January conducting site visits and evaluations.

Winners will be selected based on their display and execution of excellence in management effectiveness, force readiness support, food quality and production, employee and customer relations, training and safety awareness.

“Although a key component of the Hennessy awards is recognizing exceptional food service programs, they also promote excellence through quality, improvements, recommendations and information exchange with industry partners,” said Bill Spencer, chief of AFSVA’s Air Force Food and Beverage Division.

Look for the announcement of Hennessy award winners in the spring.