Hendersonville Police Department was honored with the 2025 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award during a ceremony

Tennessee – The Hendersonville Police Department was honored with the 2025 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award during a ceremony at Hendersonville City Hall on Aug. 29. The award is the highest recognition the Department of Defense presents to employers for their support of National Guard and Reserve members.

The department was recognized for its longstanding commitment to military service members and their families within the organization. The nomination came from Capt. Andrew Dillehay, an Army Reservist with Nashville’s 304th Military Police Battalion who has served as a Hendersonville Police Officer since 2020.

“Their support has been instrumental in enabling me to continue serving,” Dillehay said. “During my numerous times away for military service, I have never had concerns regarding my position, and I have been deeply appreciative of the outreach from my supervisors and even the Chief of Police, who have personally checked in on my family in my absence.”

With a staff of more than 135 employees, the department includes 15 reserve component service members, such as Tennessee Army and Air National Guardsmen, along with numerous veterans. More than 1,600 employers nationwide were nominated for the award this year, but only 15 were selected. Hendersonville Police Department was among the five public sector employers chosen for the honor.

This is not the first time the department has been recognized for its support of service members. In 2010, it was nominated for the Public Sector Freedom Award, and in 2021 it received the Extraordinary Employer Support Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).

Chief James Jones accepted the award on behalf of the department from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.

“Without organizations and departments such as this, our military would not be as successful as we are,” said Maj. Gen. Warner Ross, Tennessee’s Adjutant General. “It takes partnerships, support, and being able to all work together to keep Americans safe.”