Southern Company, nominated by a program strategist, is the nation’s largest producer of electricity and serves more than 4.4 million customers in the Southeast. The company’s “Support our Troops” project has sent more than 500 pounds of personal care items to military members in Iraq and Afghanistan. After returning from deployment, employees were honored at a company-wide dinner hosted by the chief executive officer. Southern Company and its subsidiaries have received numerous Patriot Awards, Above and Beyond Awards and the ESGR Pro Patria Award. Photo Caption: Under Secretary of Defense, Chief Financial Officer Robert Hale (left), and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Dennis McCarthy (right) presented the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award to Tom Fanning, president, Southern Company (center). The Freedom Award, presented September 23 in Washington D.C., is the highest recognition given by the U.S. government to employers for their outstanding support of employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. Photo by Johnny Bivera.