NMCSD NEX Honored with Prestigious Bingham Award for Operational Excellence

SAN DIEGO – Rear Adm. (Ret.) Robert J. Bianchi, chief executive officer of the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM), presented the prestigious Bingham Award to the Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) Navy Exchange during a ceremony at the hospital’s Flag Circle, Nov. 3, 2026.

The Bingham Award was established in 1979 to recognize excellence in customer service, operations, and management at NEX activities. The award is named after the late Capt. W.H. Bingham, Supply Corps, U.S. Navy Reserve. Capt. Bingham, who was the chief executive officer of the R.H. Macy's Company, was appointed by the Secretary of the Navy in 1946 to lead an advisory board for the establishment of what is now NEXCOM. Today, the Bingham Award is presented to the "best of the best" NEXs across nine sales categories for overall financial results and customer service.

Over 100 guests, including NEX associates, hospital leadership, and regional representatives, gathered to celebrate the milestone. In a unique hospital environment, the NMCSD NEX team plays a critical role in supporting both active-duty warfighters and Military Health System beneficiaries.

“At the heart of both the Navy Exchange and Naval Medical Center San Diego is a shared commitment to service,” said Bianchi, who was joined at the ceremony by Roland Santos, NEX western district vice president. “Our NEX customers and NMCSD’s healthcare beneficiaries are the very same people — warfighters, veterans, and their families. By delivering premier hospitality and essential day-to-day services right here on the hospital grounds, this NEX team directly supports a vital combat support agency and brings comfort to patients and staff alike.”

During his remarks, Bianchi also highlighted a deeply meaningful aspect of the NMCSD exchange's legacy. During the height of combat operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the globe, the NMCSD NEX uniform shop was the first in the enterprise to adapt its tailoring services for wounded warriors — customizing uniforms to fit the new physical realities, prosthetics, and medical needs of recovering service members.

Capt. Jerry J. Bailey, NMCSD director and NMRTC San Diego commander, praised the close partnership between the medical center and the exchange staff, highlighting the genuine care and compassion the NEX associates are known for across the installation and how their support acts as a force multiplier for operational readiness.

“Our primary mandate is ensuring that our operational forces are medically ready to deploy into contested environments,” Bailey said. “A critical component of sustaining that lethal warfighter readiness is maintaining a strong, resilient support system on the homefront. Our NEX associates are known across this command for their genuine care and compassion – whether they are helping a recovering patient or assisting our medical staff between shifts. That daily dedication directly supports our personnel and operational Sailors, allowing us to maintain our focus on the warfighting mission. This award recognizes a team that truly excels at supporting the homefront.”

As the headquarters for the worldwide NEXCOM Enterprise, NEXCOM's mission is to provide authorized customers with quality goods and services at a savings, and to support Navy quality-of-life programs for active-duty military, retirees, reservists, and their families.

During the presentation, Bianchi presented plaques and certificates of recognition to hospital leadership, managers, and frontline sales associates who directly contributed to the store's top-tier performance.

Bianchi presented official Bingham Award plaques to Bailey and Carmencita Balingit, NEX supervisor.

Following the plaque presentations, framed certificates were awarded to Bailey, Santos, Balingit, and Frank Androski, NEX western district operations manager for small stores.

Additionally, individual certificates were presented to the management and sales teams whose day-to-day efforts drove the store’s success. Manager certificates were awarded to Santos, Androski, Balingit, Juan Jones, John Kreis, Rebecca LaClair, Juan Padilla, and Evangeline Paxton, Navy exchange manager at NMCSD.

Associate certificates recognizing dedicated customer service and operational support were presented to Michael Angelo Ani, Gemilei Bundoc, Martha Delgadillo, Maria Flores, Ludmila Kavern, Cathy Madrid, Monique McCoy, Stephanie Paynita, Elisa Ruiz, Bridgette Stanford, Yvette Trejo, Randall Wentworth, and Naomi Yagi.

“This recognition belongs to every single associate who walks through our doors ready to serve with humility, action, and heart,” Paxton said. “Working inside a major military medical center means our customers may be celebrating a new baby, preparing to deploy, or navigating a challenging medical recovery. Our team takes immense pride in providing a welcoming, supportive environment for the NMCSD community, and we are thrilled to bring the Bingham Award home.”

Following the official remarks and award presentations, Bailey, Bianchi, Paxton, and Balingit joined together for a traditional cake-cutting ceremony using the commanding officer’s cutlass to mark the achievement.

NMRTC San Diego's mission is to prepare service members for deployment in support of operational forces, deliver high-quality health care services, and shape the future of military medicine through education, training, and research.

NMCSD employs more than 5,600 active-duty military personnel, civilians, and contractors in Southern California to deliver exceptional care.

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