Photo By Sgt. Chasity Williams | Key guests stand for a group photo at the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve...... read more read more
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Cox Enterprises received the 2025 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award during the recognition ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia, October 17, 2025.
The award is the highest U.S. Government honor to employers for their support of National Guard and Reserve employees and is presented annually by the Secretary of Defense.
The Employer Support of Guard and Reserve office received 1,626 nominations from across the nation and Cox Enterprises was one of 15 award recipients that distinguished themselves by going far beyond the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, or USERRA.
For Methella Green, Cox Automotive Military Program Manager for Fleet Services, who has increased veteran employment in the company by 16 percent, this award highlights opportunities for veterans to thrive in their civilian careers, and servicemembers appreciate companies for the opportunity to do so.
“It cemented the fact of what we do. It cemented the fact that we have someone that is in the Guard and Reserves that shows that Cox supported them,” said Green. “We are supportive of the Guard and Reserves and this award shows our impact that we’re having with the veterans.”
According to Green, Cox Enterprises hires nationwide and most recently in Georgia hired 1,039 automotive technicians with more than 15 percent represented by military veterans. Utilizing the unique background of those who have served in many roles from infantry to intelligence, contributed to how the company continues to grow, lead, and develop.
“Veterans and military spouses bring an incredible range of technical and transferable skills, including leadership, teamwork and commitment,” said Peter Mahmood, who retired after 24 years of active duty in the U.S. Army and became the Senior Recruiter and Military Relations Manager at Cox in 2022.
The skills Peter had learned as a recruiter in the Army made him highly trained, equipped, and qualified to develop a long-term strategy for hiring military and veteran talent within his civilian career.
Lieutenant Colonel Pervis Brown, Military Family Support Branch Chief for the Georgia Army Guard, emphasized that extended deployments or training experienced by Soldiers and Airmen, ultimately benefit employers as those Guardsmen develop and maintain skills that can be leveraged in the workforce.
“When that Soldier or Airman has to leave, the experiences that they will bring back, I believe speaks volumes back to that employer,” said Brown. “If you had to go off to a military school, that would call you away, you come back better trained and a better resource that can now be employed in the job that you would have.”
With such a large and expanded workforce, veterans and servicemembers contribute to a diversified portfolio that brings technical skills, commitment, discipline, and leadership skills that can guide a company forward.
| Date Taken: | 10.17.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.21.2025 09:50 |
| Story ID: | 550468 |
| Location: | ATLANTA, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 24 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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