For Immediate Release
Date: June 12, 2019
Contact: Marianne Downs, ESGR Public Affairs
Department of Defense Announces recipients of The Secretary of Defense employer support freedom award Fifteen Exceptional Employers Recognized for Top Honor
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:
| Employer Name | City, State |
| 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 Store | Lebanon, Tennessee |
| Delta Solutions & Strategies, LLC | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Direct Supply, Inc. | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Eversource Energy | Harford, CT and Boston, MA |
| 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.
For more information about the Freedom Award, visit www.FreedomAward.mil. To learn more about ESGR, part of the Defense Personnel and Family Support Center, visit www.ESGR.mil.
About ESGR
ESGR is a Department of Defense program that develops and promotes supportive work environments for Service members in the Reserve Components through outreach, recognition, and educational opportunities that increase awareness of applicable laws. It also provides assistance in resolving conflicts between Service members and their employers.