Duke Field Airman lands top food services honors Published Nov. 16, 2009 By Dan Neely 919th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs DUKE FIELD, Fla. -- A reservist from the 919th Services Squadron recently landed top honors for her excellence in the culinary services field. Senior Airman Eunice Mims, a food services apprentice who works at Duke Field's dining facility, was one of 21 Air Force food service professionals honored in October at the 2009 Hennessy Travelers Association Educational Foundation Armed Forces Forum for Culinary Excellence. The forum at Culinary Institute of America Greystone Campus in Napa Valley, Calif., recognized a total of 25 members of the armed forces serving in food operations around the world. Honorees are nominated by evaluation teams during a month-long worldwide tour to select the "best of the best" in military food service operations. The evaluation teams consist of members from the National Restaurant Association Board of Directors, the Society for Food Service Management, the International Food Service Executives Association and military headquarters staff. Annually since 2006, service men and women nominated during the evaluation process are invited to attend the forum where the honorees are provided hands-on classes, seminars, tours and a roundtable discussion with leaders of the restaurant and food service industries. "It was astounding, and I'm very honored," Airman Mims remarked of her prestigious award. "I was very surprised." The five-year Air Force Reservist said her primary duties involve receiving truck orders, performing inventories, keeping track of incoming and outgoing storeroom supplies, food preparation and cooking. Airman Mims said she most enjoys "having the opportunity of learning new things and meeting people" in her daily duties.