WASHINGTON – The Department of Defense announced the 15 recipients of the 2019 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest U.S. government honor to employers for support of National Guard and Reserve employees.
“It is an honor to recognize these 15 exemplary civilian employers,” said Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan. “The strength of our military and the success of our defense strategy depends on the readiness of our National Guard and Reserve members. These dedicated citizen warriors could not accomplish their missions without employers who understand and support their military service. We are grateful to these organizations for their role in keeping our nation safe and for setting the standard for all employers of Guard and Reserve members.”
The Freedom Award recipients below will be honored Aug. 23 at a Pentagon ceremony:
Archer Daniels Midland, Chicago, Illinois
Barclays, New York, New York
Callison Tighe & Robinson, LLC, Columbia, South Carolina
Chevron, San Ramon, California
Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores, Lebanon, Tennessee
Delta Solutions & Strategies, LLC, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Direct Supply, Inc., Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Eversource Energy, Hartford, Connecticut and Boston, Massachusetts
Houston Police Department, Houston, Texas
Kauai Auto Repair, Kalaheo, Hawaii
Levi Rodgers Real Estate Group @ RE/MAX Military City, San Antonio, Texas
LG&E and KU Energy, LLC, Louisville, Kentucky
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Columbus, Ohio
The Steel Network, Durham, North Carolina
West Valley City, West Valley City, Utah
The 2019 recipients were selected from 2,415 nominations received from Guardsmen and Reservists highlighting how their civilian employers went far beyond what the federal law requires to support them. The Freedom Award began in 1996 under the auspices of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve to recognize exceptional employer support, with 265 honorees to date.