The Department of Defense (DoD) recently announced that the Davis Brown Law Firm was among 148 employers who have been selected as semifinalists for the 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest recognition given to employers for exceptional support of their employees serving in the Guard and Reserve.

The firm was nominated by Major William P. Kelly, a JAG Officer and Davis Brown attorney currently serving in Afghanistan, and was one of three Iowa companies chosen from a pool of 4,049 nominations submitted by service members in 2011. Principal Financial Group and Buena Vista County Sheriff's Office were also named as semifinalists.

A national selection board, comprised of senior defense officials, business leaders and prior award winners, will select 15 recipients for the 2011 Freedom Award and award recipients are expected to be announced by the DoD in early summer. Recipients will be honored in Washington, D.C. at the 16th Annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award Ceremony on September 22, 2011.