Three leading military surveys have named Gulf Power Company and its parent company, Southern Company, a top employer for both active duty and military veterans.

A longstanding leader in military recruitment, Southern Company is the top-ranked energy company and No. 3 overall in the 2014 DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Veterans. In addition, the company is the top-ranked energy company and No. 13 overall in the Military Times EDGE Best for Vets: Employers 2014 survey and has been named to the Most Valuable Employers for Military^® winners by CivilianJobs.com for the fifth consecutive year.

"Veterans are special to us at Gulf Power,” said Stan Connally, Gulf Power President and CEO. “They are a natural fit for us because the cultures of both the military and the utility industry exemplify dedication, commitment to safety, teamwork and excellence in all they do.”

About 15 percent of Gulf Power’s 1,400 employees are veterans. Currently, 10 percent of the Southern Company system's 26,000 employees are veterans or serve in the National Guard or Reserve. Veterans account for 14 percent of the system's new hires this year.

Southern Company's ongoing support of military personnel has earned broad recognition, including the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award — the highest honor given by the Department of Defense for support of employees who serve in the National Guard or Reserve — and the Pro Patria Award for leadership in providing benefits to military employees. G.I. Jobs has named Southern Company the nation's highest-ranked utility in its Top 100 Military Friendly Employers^® listing for seven consecutive years.

As part of its commitment to veterans, Southern Company also is a founding partner of the Troops to Energy Jobs program, a recruiting source that links veterans to job openings in the energy industry. The company actively recruits members of the Navy as a Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program partner and has pledged to support the Joining Forces initiative. In addition, Southern Company annually participates in more than 30 military recruitment events and partners with military transition centers across the country.

Gulf Power Company is an investor-owned electric utility with all of its common stock owned by Atlanta-based Southern Company. Gulf Power serves more than 436,000 customers in eight counties throughout Northwest Florida. The company’s mission is to safely provide exceptional customer value by delivering reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible electricity while strengthening our communities. Visit online at GulfPower.com or on the company’s Facebook page, “Gulf Power Company.”
 

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