Vet News: Department of Defense Announces Recipients of 2015 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award
The Department of Defense announced today the 15 recipients of the 2015 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest honor the department gives to employers for support of National Guard and Reserve employees.
“These outstanding employers have not only earned this award, they have earned this Nation’s gratitude," said Defense Secretary Ash Carter. “I am truly honored to recognize these 15 organizations for their unwavering support of our military men and women and their families. Their accomplishments are a vital piece of our National defense and a high standard toward which all employers of Guard and Reserve members should strive.”
The 2015 Freedom Award recipients below will be honored at a ceremony in the Pentagon Aug. 21, 2015:
| Employer | Location | Nominator’s Branch of Service |
|---|---|---|
| Black Hills Corporation | Rapid City, SD | Army National Guard |
| Boise Fire Department | Boise, ID | Marine Corps Reserve |
| BP America, Inc. | Houston, TX | Army National Guard |
| Cardinal Health | Dublin, OH | Army National Guard |
| Cigna | Bloomfield, CT | Air National Guard |
| City of Glendale | Glendale, AZ | Navy Reserve |
| City of Shawnee | Shawnee, KS | Army Reserve |
| College of the Ozarks | Point Lookout, MO | Army National Guard |
| CVS Health | Woonsocket, RI | Air National Guard |
| Devon Energy | Oklahoma City, OK | Air National Guard |
| Dr. Joe A. Jackson, MD, PLLC | Biloxi, MS | Army National Guard |
| Neil, Dymott, Frank, McFall, Trexler, McCabe & Hudson APLC | San Diego, CA | Navy Reserve |
| Snell & Wilmer LLP | Phoenix, AZ | Marine Corps Reserve |
| Town of Hingham | Hingham, MA | Navy Reserve |
| Walt Disney Company | Burbank, CA | Air National Guard |
The 2015 recipients were selected from 2,960 nominations received from Guardsmen and Reservists for going far beyond what the federal law requires to support their military employees. The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve to recognize exceptional support from the employer community. In the years since, 205 employers have been honored with the award.
For more information about the Freedom Award and this year’s recipients, visit their website. To learn more about ESGR, visit ESGR.mil.
For questions or interviews regarding the Freedom Award, contact ESGR Public Affairs, at [email protected] or by phone at (571) 372-0692.
