The U.S. Naval Forces Europe has chosen NAS Keflavik, Iceland, to represent the European region in competition for the Commander-in-Chief’s Installation Excellence Award.

The selection is not in itself an award, but it does signify the North Atlantic base is the best installation in Europe, at least in NAVEUR’s eyes.

The ultimate award winner will receive $200,000 to use for base improvements and earn the right to fly the flag designating it an excellent installation.

NAS Keflavik has been the nominee in the recent past — 1999 and 2000 — but was not considered part of the European region at the time.

NAS Keflavik is no stranger to base competitions. It has won the U.S. Navy Safety Award four years in a row and has had the service’s best fire department for 16 straight years.

The base has received other honors: the Admiral Zumwalt Award for Housing Excellence; Chief of Naval Operations FY01 Environmental Quality Overseas Installation Award; the Bronze Hammer Award for excellence in facility self-help; and the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Retention Excellence Award.

The installation that takes the award as the best in the Navy will then compete with those from the other services for the honor as the best installation in the Department of Defense.