Southern Company, with operating company subsidiaries of Gulf Power, Georgia Power, Alabama Power, and Mississippi Power, was named a winner of the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award — the highest honor given by the Department of Defense to employers for support of employees who serve in the National Guard or Reserve.

Gulf Power Company has 15 employees that serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

Susan Story, President and CEO of Gulf Power, said the choice to support our men and women who serve our country is an easy one for the company.

“Gulf Power’s dedication and commitment to our military runs deep,” Story said. “It’s a way of life. Supporting those who go in our place to preserve the freedoms we enjoy is critical to our military’s success. We’re proud to support them as employees and as freedom fighters.”

Southern Company, the only utility nationally to win the award, was one of 15 winners from a field of approximately 2,500 companies nominated.

Companies are nominated by employees who are Guard or Reserve members, or their family members. Nominees then provide material that supports their candidacy. Through collaboration with its operating companies and business units, Southern Company submitted an entry containing articles, examples, anecdotes, and even handwritten letters demonstrating the company’s commitment to the military.

The nominees were judged by a national selection board sponsored by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and composed of senior defense officials, business leaders and prior Freedom Award recipients. The board weighed each nominee on such criteria as company benefits, provision of full salary during deployment, care packages, program initiatives and support of family members while employees are on active duty.

Southern Company and the other 14 winners will receive their awards Sept. 23 in Washington.

Gulf Power Company is an investor-owned electric utility that serves more than 428,000 customers in 10 counties throughout Northwest Florida. The company’s mission is to safely deliver affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible energy to very satisfied customers in strong communities.