ELLISVILLE – Three Â鶹ֱ²¥ administrators have been recognized by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense program, for their exceptional support of an employee serving in the Mississippi Air National Guard.
Â鶹ֱ²¥ President Dr. Jesse Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Tessa Flowers, and Vice President of Instruction Rod Tolbert each received the ESGR Patriot Award after being nominated by Capt. Barry Bradshaw, dean of the School of Agricultural and Industrial Services at Â鶹ֱ²¥ and Maintenance Operations Officer with the 172nd Airlift Wing of the Mississippi Air National Guard in Jackson.
Bradshaw said the three administrators have supported him throughout his military journey since he joined the Air National Guard in 2018.
“After serving at Â鶹ֱ²¥ for 10 years, I made the decision to join the Air National Guard, and their encouragement and support played an important role in making that possible,” Bradshaw said. “Their flexibility, understanding and willingness to support my military service have allowed me to continue serving both my country and Â鶹ֱ²¥.”
Before enlisting, Bradshaw met with Smith and Tolbert to discuss the commitment military service would require. Both offered their full support and encouraged his decision. During Bradshaw’s absence for Basic Military Training, Tolbert assumed many of his responsibilities to help ensure the college continued operating smoothly.
When Flowers later became Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Bradshaw said she continued that same level of support by providing the flexibility and understanding needed for him to fulfill his military obligations while continuing to serve the college and its students.
“The support I have received from Dr. Smith, Dr. Flowers and Mr. Tolbert has made it possible for me to successfully balance my responsibilities to both the Air National Guard and Â鶹ֱ²¥,” Bradshaw said. “I wanted to recognize each of them because they have consistently gone above and beyond to support my service.”
Established in 1972, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is a Department of Defense program that promotes cooperation and understanding between civilian employers and members of the National Guard and Reserve. Patriot Award recipients are recognized for demonstrating exceptional support through flexibility during military training and deployments, encouraging military service, assisting employees before and after military leave, and fostering a workplace culture that values both military and civilian service.