JBER Airman fuels mission capability through food

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Eli A. Rose
  • Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  For many, cooking is a hobby; for some, a career, but for a select few, such as Airman 1st Class Ivana Inga on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, it's a never-ending pursuit of excellence and a way to fuel homeland defense.
After competing and achieving victory at the U.S. Air Force's National Services Hospitality Epicurean Faceoff culinary battle in San Antonio, Texas, Dec. 2, 2025, Inga continues to pour into Airmen on JBER by empowering the same passion she holds so dearly.
Inga serves as a services Airman with the 673d Force Support Squadron at the Iditarod Dining Facility. Although she currently works as the primary accountant, Inga previously spent two years as a preparation cook and server at the DFAC. Through dedication and passion for her craft, she has risen to the top of her career field.
“It’s significantly harder to get the mission done when you’re hungry,” said Inga. “Getting the satisfaction of feeding people who are accomplishing the mission is incredibly fulfilling.”
Her recently-acquired position as the facility’s accountant has her approaching the mission in a “much broader way,” according to Inga.
Ensuring proper cash-handling procedure’s, supplying and managing Meals Ready to Eat (MRE), overseeing prep and readiness, as well as securing monetary assets, are just a few of the tasks she manages daily, empowering the Iditarod DFAC to fuel JBER.
“It’s definitely very different day-to-day,” said Inga. “But it’s still feeding people and fueling the mission, plus I have my husband to cook for at home so my skills stay sharp.”
Achieving victory at the national level of the SHEF culinary battle demonstrates Inga’s cooking prowess. According to Mason Shyrel, general manager of the Iditarod Dining Facility since 2019, the “quiet confidence, steady demeanor and consistency” she brings to her workplace is what defines her as a “truly exemplary Airman.”
Inga describes her love for cooking and her career as an Airman as “pretty much symbiotic.” Growing up in Southern California, she and her mother cooked together every night, creating new dishes and finding creative, delicious ways to feed the family.
Her love for cooking was further reinforced by a baking class she took in high school and she began looking for a way to feed people professionally. Around the same time, an Air Force recruiter reached out to her.
Inga says the opportunity to follow her passion in such a meaningful and impactful way was too good to pass up, which led to her enlistment.
“When I first talked to the recruiter, I realized how much sense the Air Force path made to me,” said Inga. “It was an opportunity to do something I loved as a career and a way to support and help people.”
The Iditarod Dining Facility feeds hundreds of customers daily and is critical to base readiness. Boasting a wide variety of options — from smash burgers to made-to-order omelettes — the DFAC is committed to providing members with a reliable place to get the sustenance they need to effectively accomplish the mission and defend the homeland.
“Airman 1st Class Inga holds significant responsibility that is crucial for success” said Shyrel. “She is quietly confident and highly dependable and has been highly engaged with numerous mission-critical functions here.”
With Inga set to move duty stations this year, she leaves behind an impactful legacy. She has begun training another Airman to take over her role as primary accountant. As for next year’s SHEF competition, Inga fully plans to participate, not as a contestant, but as a mentor, returning to JBER to guide the next generation of competitors.