WASHINGTON — The Under Secretary of War for Personnel and Readiness, Anthony Tata, has announced the 40 finalists for the 2026 Secretary of War Employer Support Freedom Award. The distinction is the highest honor the United States government bestows upon employers for their support of National Guard and Reserve members.
The finalists represent a cross-section of the American economy, ranging from small businesses to large corporations and public sector agencies. Now in its 30th year, the Freedom Award was established in 1996 by Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). Since its inception, 370 organizations have been honored for providing support that exceeds federal mandates.
"The enduring support these employers provide for our National Guardsmen, our Reservists, and their families, many of whom are in harm’s way, is a critical component of our All-Volunteer force," Tata said in a statement.
This year's competition marks the introduction of a new category specifically for the Defense Industrial Base, highlighting firms that contribute to national security while supporting their military-serving employees.
ESGR received more than 1,200 nominations from all 50 states and U.S. territories. The selected finalists were noted for going "far beyond" the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Examples of exceptional support cited by the department include enhanced pay packages, flexible scheduling, and assisting families with household repairs during deployments.
2026 Freedom Award Finalists
Defense Industrial Base
Marathon Petroleum
Kenai, Alaska
Navy Reserve
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Richland, Washington
Army National Guard
Miller Electric Company
Jacksonville, Florida
Coast Guard Reserve
Los Alamos National Laboratory/Triad National Security
Los Alamos, New Mexico
Pratt and Whitney
Middletown, Connecticut
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Livermore, California
Air Force Reserve
Cherokee Analytics
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation
Huntsville, Alabama
Army Reserve
Sigmatech Inc.
Large Business
Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company
Jackson, Mississippi
Quad (formerly Quad/Graphics)
Sussex, Wisconsin
Qualtrics
Provo, Utah
Prisma Health
Greenville, South Carolina
NFM
Omaha, Nebraska
Forvis Mazars US
Charlotte, North Carolina
The Chartis Group
Washington, District of Columbia
Marine Corps Reserve
Comprehensive Care Services
Plymouth, Michigan
Air National Guard
Blanchard Valley Health System
Findlay, Ohio
Waste Connections
The Woodlands, Texas
Abiomed J&J MedTech Heart Recovery
Danvers, Massachusetts
Van Meter Inc.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Public
Alton R-IV School District
Alton, Missouri
St Johns County Board of County Commissioners
St. Augustine, Florida
Shelby County Sheriff's Office
Columbiana, Alabama
New Mexico Military Institute
Roswell, New Mexico
Michigan Department of Corrections
Carson City, Michigan
Horry County Sheriff's Office
Conway, South Carolina
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Alva, Oklahoma
Tennessee Department of Transportation
McDonald, Tennessee
Madison Fire Department
Madison, Wisconsin
Hampden County Sheriff Department
Ludlow, Massachusetts
City of Sioux Center
Sioux Center, Iowa
City of Weatherford
Weatherford, Texas
Mesa Public Schools
Mesa, Arizona
Small Business
AmeriTech Contracting
Berlin, Connecticut
Glendale Parade Store LLC
San Antonio, Texas
Bank Midwest
Spirit Lake, Iowa
Mainelli Mechanical
Matanuska Telecom Association
Palmer, Alaska
Wayfinder, BK
Tucson, Arizona
For more information about the Secretary of War Employer Support Freedom Award and Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve go to www.esgr.mil.