UT-Battelle Recognized with Defense Secretary’s Freedom Award

The Department of Defense has recognized UT-Battelle with a 2022 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest recognition given by the United States government to employers for their support of staff members who serve as reserve members of the U.S. Armed Forces, known collectively as the Reserve component.

UT-Battelle manages and operates Oak Ridge National Laboratory on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy.

“As a national laboratory, we have a commitment to meet the nation’s scientific and technical needs. Our guard and Reserve employees’ own commitment to the nation is integral to ensuring we meet the mission, and they help to make ORNL one of the leading scientific institutions in the world,” said ORNL director Thomas Zacharia. “It’s an honor to be recognized by the Department of Defense.”

Maj. Maria McClelland, ORNL’s chief information security officer, submitted the nomination, citing her 20 years of experience in the military, most recently as a Tennessee Air National Guard cyber warfare officer.

“I nominated UT-Battelle for the Freedom Award because they not only actively recruit veterans and current guard and Reserve members, but they also go above and beyond in support when those employees are mobilized or deployed, including benefits and recognition before, during and after deployment,” she said.

About 10% of ORNL’s staff are military reservists and veterans.

This year, 15 awards were presented to employers selected from more than 2,700 nominations in three categories – large business, small business and the public sector. Companies are nominated by a guard or Reserve component employee in their organization. To date, the Freedom Award has been granted to 325 honorees.

“ORNL has a history of unmatched support for its employees who serve in the Reserve components,” said Jim Mungenast, chair of the Tennessee ESGR committee. “Dr. Zacharia, the leadership team and co-workers get behind all guard and Reserve employees and their families, with unparalleled support for them and their families during deployments and other duty. The Secretary of Defense’s selection of UT-Battelle for the Freedom Award is well deserved and serves as a model for employers nationwide.”

Mungenast also cited compensation and benefits while serving — 80 hours paid time off for normal military training and 173 hours if serving during emergencies — as an example of ORNL’s demonstration of commitment to guard and Reserve employees. For extended military duty, ORNL guard and Reserve employees receive a pay differential if their military pay is less than their ORNL salary.