Construction Services Director Tim Tomlinson has been honored with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award. Tomlinson was nominated for the award by Sergeant Willard Pippin of the Facilities Services Electric Shop.
Tomlinson received the award in recognition of extraordinary support of Pippin while he served in the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment.
The Patriot Award acknowledges supervisors who support their employees while they are on duty through the use of flexible schedules, time off before and after deployment, and granting leaves of absence if needed. An employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve may nominate individual supervisors.
“We like to recognize those supervisors who are particularly supportive,” said Jim Foggin, ESGR volunteer. “The main reasons why Guard and Reserve members leave the Reserves is lack of support from their family or a lack of support from their employer.”
Pippin was deployed to Iraq for six months in 2009. He left for training in December and returned to Knoxville in July 2010. Pippin also had served two years in Vietnam.
Upon Pippin’s return from Iraq, Tomlinson offered him a position in the Electric Shop.
“Tim has always been very supportive,” Pippin said. “Anytime I had to go to my annual training, or go to a ceremony, he had no problem with me going.”
Tomlinson said he is honored to receive the award, but he feels he was just doing the right thing.
“We are glad to have Willard in our division,” he said. “With regard to anybody who stands up for our country—how can you not stand up with them?”
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972 to develop and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service.
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CONTACT:
Brooke Stevenson (bsteve14@utk.edu)