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Release
Immediate Release

Department of Defense Announces Recipients of 2015 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award

June 25, 2015

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 www.FreedomAward.mil. To learn more about ESGR, visit www.ESGR.mil.
For questions or interviews regarding the Freedom Award, contact ESGR Public Affairs, at OSD.ESGR-PA@mail.mil or by phone at (571) 372-0692.