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Immediate Release

Department of Defense Announces Recipients of 2014 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, announced today 15 recipients of the 2014 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest honor the department gives to employers for support of National Guard and Reserve employees.

“I'm honored to announce the recipients of the 2014 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award,” said Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. “Guardsmen and Reservists across the nation rely on strong bonds with their civilian employers. By recognizing these 15 exceptional employers, the Department of Defense celebrates the contributions made by American employers to our Citizen Warriors. I commend these extraordinary employers for their unwavering commitment to service members and their families.”

The 2014 Freedom Award recipients below will be honored at a ceremony in the Pentagon Sept. 26:

 

Employer

Location

Nominator’s Branch of Service

Arizona Public Service

Phoenix, Arizona

Army Reserve

AT&T

Dallas, Texas

Coast Guard Reserve

Capital One

McLean, Virginia

Army National Guard

CH2M-WG Idaho

Idaho Falls, Idaho

Navy Reserve

General Mills, Inc.

Golden Valley, Minnesota

Army National Guard

J.G. Management Systems, Inc.

Grand Junction, Colorado

Air Force Reserve

Los Angeles Fire Department

Los Angeles, California

Navy Reserve

N.H. Department of

Environmental Services

Concord, New Hampshire

Army National Guard

PNC Bank

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Army National Guard

Shofner Vision Center

Nashville, Tennessee

Air Force Reserve

St. Jude Children’s

Research Hospital

Memphis, Tennessee

Army Reserve

Triumph Pharmaceuticals Inc.

St. Louis, Missouri

Army National Guard

UNC Health Care

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Navy Reserve

Washoe County School District

Reno, Nevada

Air National Guard

Zions Bank

Salt Lake City, Utah

Army National Guard

 
The 2014 recipients were selected from 2,864 nominations received from Guardsmen and Reservists for going far beyond what the federal law requires to support their military employees. Last year, recipients met with President Barack Obama and senior Department of Defense leaders as part of the award recognition.

For more information about the Freedom Award and this year’s recipients, visit www.FreedomAward.milunder the Media Tab in the Press Releases section.

The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of ESGR to recognize exceptional support from the employer community. In the years since, 190 employers have been honored with the award. To learn more about ESGR, visit www.ESGR.mil.

For questions or interviews regarding the Freedom Award, contact Beth Sherman, ESGR Public Affairs, at OSD.ESGR-PA@mail.mil or by phone at 571-372-0705.