JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – The Air Force Services Center has announced the winners of the 70th annual John L. Hennessy Awards, recognizing the best dining facility operations in the Department of the Air Force.
This year’s winners are:
- Region 1 (East): 19th Force Support Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas
- Region 2 (West): 17th Force Support Squadron, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
- Air Force Global Strike Command Best Missile Feeding Operation: 341st Force Support Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Montana
- U.S. Air Forces in Europe Food Service Small Site Award: 703rd Munitions Support Squadron, Volkel Air Base, Netherlands
“This year’s competition is the 70th year the Department of the Air Force and the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation have partnered to recognize our outstanding mission feeding professionals and platforms,” said Col. E. Jonelle Eychner, AFSVC commander. “This longstanding industry partnership strengthens our ability to serve Airmen, Guardians, and their families.”
In addition to the unit awards, evaluation teams identified individual food service professionals who demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism, passion, and culinary skill. These high-performing Airmen, selected as Hennessy Traveler Award nominees, will have the opportunity to attend the Culinary Institute of America in San Antonio later this year where an overall winner will be announced.
The 2026 Hennessy Traveler Award nominees are:
Region 1 (East)
- Senior Airman Jordan McKinnis, Moody AFB, Georgia
- Senior Airman Angel Rosado, Dover AFB, Delaware
- Senior Airman Jasmine Widger, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas
- Airman 1st Class Alexis Holmes, Eglin AFB, Florida
Region 2 (West)
- Airman 1st Class Kimberly Abarro, Fairchild AFB, Washington
- Airman 1st Class Jorden Penny, Kadena AB, Japan
- Airman 1st Class Carlos Zavala, Beale AFB, California
USAFE Food Service Small Site
- Senior Airman Matthew Caylor, Kleine Brogel AB, Belgium
- Senior Airman Jamie L. Stites, Volkel AB, Netherlands
- Senior Airman Ester S. Taufaasau, Buchel AB, Germany
AFGSC Missile Alert Field Feeding Operation
- Senior Airman Edith Rabideau, Malmstrom AFB, Montana
- Staff Sgt. Ashley Spain, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming
The prestigious John L. Hennessy Awards program honors excellence in food service across the DAF. Named for John L. Hennessy, a hotel and food service industry leader who advised presidents on military food service matters in the 1950s, the award celebrates his vision for a spirited program to recognize outstanding achievement.
“The Air Force has cherished this industry relationship since 1957, as we move into our 70th anniversary of recognizing excellence with our industry evaluators annually. They provide us with validation that our programs align to industry best practices. They have raised their hand to serve, volunteering to travel, evaluate and inspire young food service professionals,” said Jim Krueger, AFSVC Mission Feeding Division chief.
Winners were selected based on their demonstrated and sustained excellence in management effectiveness, force readiness support, food quality and production, employee and customer relations, training, and safety awareness.
The winners will be formally recognized on May 15 at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago during the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's annual trade show.