YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Secretary of Defense Robert Gates named Yokosuka Naval Base one of the top military installations in the world, according to a Department of Defense news release.

The base was named one of five winners of the 2009 Commander-in-Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence.

The release said the award recognizes the outstanding and innovative efforts of the people who operate and maintain U.S. military installations, and exhibit exemplary support of Department of Defense missions.

"I couldn’t be prouder of the folks who made this happen," the base commander, Capt. Daniel Weed, said in a base news release Friday. "It was their work, their sacrifice, day in and day out, that has made Fleet Activities Yokosuka the model of excellence and our transformation into a 21st Century Naval Base that we are being recognized for today."

This is the fourth time in the past 11 years Yokosuka has been named to the list. It was the only overseas installation to get the nod in this year’s competition.

Weed is scheduled to accept the award on behalf of his command at a ceremony to be held at the Pentagon at a date yet to be announced.

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