Columbus, MS – April 21, 2010 – American Eurocopter has been nominated for the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The award honors employers who provide exceptional support to National Guard and Reserve personnel. It is the highest in a series of employer recognition awards given by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).
Semifinalists will be selected among nominees nationwide and announced in May.
The Mississippi Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) honored American Eurocopter, along with other nominees, at an April 20 dinner in Louisville, MS. The ESGR is a DOD agency.
“About 50 percent of our workforce here is military – either veterans or active duty Guard or Reserves,” observes Earl Walker, Senior Director, Site General Manager for the company’s Columbus, MS, facility. “We have an enormously committed team. We are proud of the work they do for American Eurocopter, and we appreciate those who volunteer as protectors of our country and defenders of freedom.”
Only members of the Guard and Reserves are eligible to nominate employers for the Freedom Award. American Eurocopter was recommended by Khristen Moore, an operations planner in Columbus. Moore is a member of the U.S. Army National Guard and is currently deployed in Iraq.
In a letter to the company, Mississippi ESGR chair Derwood Boyles wrote, “American Eurocopter’s nomination for this award illustrates the exceptional leadership, support and personal devotion you provide to your employees…. We are forever grateful for your understanding and recognition of our patriotic volunteers.”
About American Eurocopter
American Eurocopter is a helicopter manufacturer that produces, markets, sells and supports the broadest range of civil and para-public helicopters offered by any manufacturer in the United States. The company is a subsidiary of EADS North America Holdings, the North American operations of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services, and is an affiliate of Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world. American Eurocopter’s product line represents the most cost-effective, technologically-advanced helicopters, ranging from light single to heavy twin, serving all markets and missions. Company headquarters and main facilities are located in Grand Prairie, TX, with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, MS, that produces the UH-72A for the U.S. Army’s Light Utility Helicopter program.
