Naval Air Depot Cherry Point’s award-winning environmental program reached a pinnacle of environmental stewardship April 11 when it was announced as one of the best in the Department of Defense.

The Secretary of Defense announced the depot’s selection as the winner of the 2004 Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) Environmental Awards competition for environmental quality. The annual SECDEF Environmental Awards program recognizes departments of the Army, Navy and Air Force individuals, teams and installations for exceptional environmental stewardship. Competition categories include natural resources conservation, cultural resources management, environmental quality, pollution prevention and environmental restoration.

The depot took top honors in the Environmental Quality (Industrial Installation) category. To compete in the SECDEF competition, the depot first won competitions for the award at the Chief of Naval Operations and the Secretary of the Navy levels.

These come in addition to North Carolina’s highest environmental recognition when its Department of Environment and Natural Resources formally named the depot March 9 as one of three 2004 N.C. Environmental Stewards.

The SECNAV and CNO awards are scheduled to be presented May 3, followed by a May 4 ceremony for the SECDEF award in Washington, D.C., at the U.S. Navy Memorial & Naval Heritage Center.

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