The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. Nominations must come from a Guard or Reserve member who is employed by the organization they are nominating, or from a family member. The award was created to publicly recognize employers who provide exceptional support to their National Guard and Reserve employees. It is the highest in a series of employer recognition awards given by the Department of Defense.

The Freedom Award is presented annually to the nation's 15 most supportive employers. The nomination season opens the first working day of November and closes the third Monday of January.

The recipients for 2009 are as follows:

AeroDyn Wind Tunnel LLC
AstraZeneca International
Cambridge MA Fire Department
Consolidated Electrical Distributors, Inc.
First Data Corporation
FMC Technologies
Jackson Parish Sheriff's Department
Marks, O'Neill, O'Brien & Courtney, PC
Microsoft Corporation
Mid America Kidney Stone Association
NetJets
Ohio Department of Public Safety
Perpetual Technologies, Inc.
Santa Ana Police Department
TriWest Healthcare Alliance

For more information about the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award and recipients, and to nominate your employer for supporting your Guard or Reserve service, please visit: www.FreedomAward.mil