Secretary of Defense Names ZAPATA as 2017 Freedom Award Recipient

ZAPATA is a recipient of the 2017 U.S. Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. In a statement yesterday, Secretary of Defense James Mattis announced the names of 15 companies that will receive this year’s award. The Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest honor presented to employers by the U.S. Government for their support of employees who are Active Guard and Reserve members.

“ZAPATA is deeply honored to be named one of the 15 organizations recognized with this very prestigious award.”
—Manuel Zapata, President

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) presides over award programs that recognize exceptional support from the employer community; this includes the Employer Support Freedom Award. ZAPATA was selected from the 3,064 nominations received by ESGR from Reserve Component troops throughout the country.

The Employer Support Freedom Award is presented to companies that have proven over time that they go above and beyond Federal requirements in support of their military employees. With the addition of this year’s recipients, a total of 250 employers have been honored with a Freedom Award since 1996.

“We look forward to attending the August 25th awards ceremony at the Pentagon—and returning home with the 2017 Employer Support Freedom Award in hand,” said Mr. Zapata.