An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | April 24, 2018

Freedom Award finalists named for 2018

By Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

WASHINGTON ­ - Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve has announced the 30 finalists for the 2018 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The finalists represent large and small employers, as well as government organizations.

ESGR received nominations for employers in all 50 states, Guam-CNMI, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia.

The ESGR National Selection Board will select and announce the 15 recipients of the 2018 Secretary of Defense Freedom Award by mid-June.

The Freedom Award began in 1996 by Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve to draw attention to support from the employer community.

To date, only 250 employers have received the award.

Here are this year's Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award finalists:


Employer Name

State

Nominator’s Service

Amazon

Wash.

Army Reserve

AME Swiss Machining LLC

Ind.

Air National Guard

ArgenTech Solutions, Inc.

Wash.

Army Reserve

Barclays

N.Y.

Army National Guard

Big Sky Advisors

Mo.

Air National Guard

Central Washington University

Wash.

Army National Guard

Crystal Group Inc.

Iowa

Army National Guard

CUNA Mutual Group

Wis.

Army Reserve

Duke Energy

N.C.

Marine Corps Reserve

Dunlap Police Department

Tenn.

Army National Guard

Ecolab, Inc.

Minn.

Army National Guard

Ellsworth Correctional Facility.

Kan.

Army Reserve

FMI Corporation

N.C.

Air Force Reserve

Greencastle Associates Consulting Company

Pa.

Army National Guard

LG&E and KU Energy

Ky.

Army National Guard

Michigan Department of Corrections

Mich.

Army Reserve

Minnesota Department of Transportation

Minn.

Army National Guard

National Grid

R.I.

Army National Guard

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections

Ohio

Army National Guard

Prudential Financial Inc.

N.J.

Air National Guard

Sacramento Municipal Utility District

Calif.

Navy Reserve

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Pa.

Army Reserve

South Charleston Police Department

W.V.

Army Reserve

State of Nevada

Nev.

Air National Guard

Stokes County Schools

N.C.

Army Reserve

Texas Department of Insurance

Texas

Army Reserve

Werner Enterprises, Inc.

Neb.

Air National Guard

West Valley City

Utah

Air Force Reserve

Wicomico County Sheriff's Office

Md.

Army National Guard

Worcester Police Department

Mass.

Army National Guard

 

 

 

Related Articles
A U.S. Army National Guard UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter, assigned to the 207th Aviation Troop Command, Alaska Army National Guard, approaches Napaskiak, Alaska, during post-storm recovery efforts for Operation Halong Response, Oct. 27, 2025. Alaska Organized Militia members, including Alaska Air and Army National Guardsmen and members of the Alaska Naval Militia and Alaska State Defense Force, continue coordinated response operations in support of the State Emergency Operations Center following Typhoon Halong. Photo by Capt. Balinda O’Neal.
Alaska Army Guard Aircrew Conducts Medical Evacuation Amid Severe Weather
By Alejandro Pena, | Nov. 20, 2025
BETHEL, Alaska — Alaska Army National Guard members assigned to A Company, 1-168th General Support Aviation Battalion, transported a patient requiring advanced medical care from Scammon Bay to Bethel Nov. 18, after severe...

U.S. Air Force KC-46A aircraft assigned to the 157th Air Refueling Wing, New Hampshire National Guard, perform an elephant walk formation on the runway at Pease Air National Guard Base, Sept. 8, 2021. After taxiing, the aircraft were parked on the ramp in preparation for the Thunder Over New Hampshire Air Show. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Timm Huffman)
Air Force Selects Tennessee Guard Base as Preferred Location to Host Next-gen Pegasus
By Air National Guard, | Nov. 20, 2025
PENTAGON – The U.S. Air Force announced McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base near Knoxville, Tennessee, as the preferred location to host the KC-46A Pegasus Main Operating Base 7 as part of the Department of the Air Force’s...

Maryland Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Alexia De Souza, specialist for the 135th Intelligence Squadron; Tech. Sgt. Matthew Holsey with the 175th Maintenance Squadron; and a member of the Estonian Defence Forces participate in Baltic Blitz 25 at Warfield Air National Guard Base at Martin State Airport, Sept. 25, 2025. Members of the Estonian Defence Forces led the exchange by conducting workshops throughout the week focusing on tactics and capabilities related to critical thinking, as well as the collection and management of information. Photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Hoover.
Maryland Guard Participates in Baltic Blitz 25 With Estonian Partners
By Airman 1st Class Sarah Hoover, | Nov. 19, 2025
MIDDLE RIVER, Md. – The Maryland National Guard recently partnered with Estonia’s Cyber Command to host Baltic Blitz 25, a cybersecurity exchange event, at Warfield Air National Guard Base at Martin State Airport.About 20...