Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, announced today that Arizona Public Service (APS) of Phoenix, Arizona, is one of 15 recipients of the 2014 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The Freedom Award is the Department’s highest recognition given to employers for exceptional support of Guard and Reserve employees. This year’s 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.

“I’m honored to announce the recipients of the 2014 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award,” said Defense Secretary 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.”

APS was nominated by Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Michael Rich from the 13th Battalion, Army Reserve Careers Division/Adjutant General. He highlighted the company’s “Troops to Energy Jobs” initiative, which accelerates the hiring of Guardsmen and Reservists and provides support to those employees and their families. APS has created an employee-led group, VETRN (Veteran Engagement Transition Retention Network), that promotes corporate support and recognition for members of the Guard and Reserve. In addition to sponsoring military and veteran organizations, the company also maintains contact with deployed service members, sending care packages overseas and offering assistance to families at home.

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

Arizona Public Service
Phoenix, Arizona

AT&T
Dallas, Texas

Capital One
McLean, Virginia

CH2M-WG Idaho
Idaho Falls, Idaho

General Mills, Inc.
Golden Valley, Minnesota

J.G. Management Systems, Inc.
Grand Junction, Colorado

Los Angeles Fire Department
Los Angeles, California

N.H. Department of Environmental Services
Concord, New Hampshire

PNC Bank
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Shofner Vision Center
Nashville, Tennessee

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Memphis, Tennessee

Triumph Pharmaceuticals Inc.
St. Louis, Missouri

UNC Health Care
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Washoe County School District
Reno, Nevada

Zions Bank
Salt Lake City, Utah