Feds Honor San Ramon-Based Chevron With 'Freedom Award'

SAN RAMON, CA — San Ramon-based Chevron has been selected as one of 15 employers to receive the 2019 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the Department of Defense announced Friday. The award is the highest U.S. government honor to employers for support of National Guard and Reserve employees, according to the DOD.

"It is an honor to recognize these 15 exemplary civilian employers," said Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan. "The strength of our military and the success of our defense strategy depends on the readiness of our National Guard and Reserve members. These dedicated citizen warriors could not accomplish their missions without employers who understand and support their military service. We are grateful to these organizations for their role in keeping our nation safe and for setting the standard for all employers of Guard and Reserve members."

The Freedom Award recipients will be honored Aug. 23 at a Pentagon ceremony. In addition to Chevron, the following companies will be honored:

• Archer Daniels Midland, Chicago, Illinois
• Barclays, New York, New York
• Callison Tighe & Robinson, LLC, Columbia, South Carolina
• Chevron, San Ramon, California
• Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores, Lebanon, Tennessee
• Delta Solutions & Strategies, LLC, Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Direct Supply, Inc., Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Eversource Energy, Hartford, Connecticut and Boston, Massachusetts
• Houston Police Department, Houston, Texas
• Kauai Auto Repair, Kalaheo, Hawaii
• Levi Rodgers Real Estate Group @ RE/MAX Military City, San Antonio, Texas
• LG&E and KU Energy, LLC, Louisville, Kentucky
• Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Columbus, Ohio
• The Steel Network, Durham, North Carolina
• West Valley City, West Valley City, Utah

The 2019 recipients were selected from 2,415 nominations received from guardsmen and reservists highlighting how their civilian employers went "far beyond what the federal law requires to support them," according to the DOD.

The Freedom Award began in 1996 under the auspices of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve to recognize exceptional employer support, with 265 honorees to date.

Chevron's selection for the award comes as the company welcomes David Inchausti as its corporate vice president and comptroller effective June 16. Inchausti succeeds Jeanette Ourada, who reportedly left the company. The 55-year-old Inchausti has been with Chevron since 1988.