MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – The LCPL Roy M. Wheat Galley at Naval Air Station (NAS) Meridian has earned the prestigious Captain Edward Ney Award for Excellence for the first time in its history.
This notable achievement comes after the galley maintained five-star ratings from the Navy evaluation team for 15 consecutive years.
The Captain Edward Ney Memorial Awards Program, established in 1958 by the Secretary of the Navy and the International Food Service Executives Association (IFSEA), is designed to recognize outstanding food-service operations within the U.S. Navy.
The award honors the best general messes, with winners selected from both Afloat and Ashore General Messes.
In 2025, there were seven award recipients across the Navy, divided into Afloat and Ashore categories. Afloat General Messes had four categories: submarine, small-medium afloat, large afloat, and aircraft carrier. Ashore categories were split into West Coast, East Coast, and outside the continental United States.
NAS Meridian’s galley was awarded the top honor in the East Coast Ashore General Messes category, marking the first time it has received the Ney Award.
The Meridian Galley serves approximately 1,000 meals per week, totaling over 30,000 meals annually. Known for its commitment to quality service, the galley has built a reputation for excellence among service members stationed at NAS Meridian.
The official award presentation will take place in Chicago on May 17, 2025. This achievement highlights the hard work and dedication of the team behind the LCPL Roy M. Wheat Galley, reinforcing its reputation as one of the best food-service operations in the Navy.
The Ney Award continues to serve as a benchmark for excellence in Navy food services, recognizing outstanding performance and the continuous drive for improvement.
