November 8, 2022

John proudly displays his Patriot Award.

“I was totally surprised by this honor and recognition,” said John Huber, director, Emergency Preparedness, after receiving a 2022 Patriot Award.

John was the recipient of the U.S. Department of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Patriot Award after being nominated by Luke Anderson, advanced business analyst, Emergency Preparedness. A member of the Ohio Army National Guard, Luke is currently serving a year-long tour of duty in the Middle East. He said he’s thankful for FirstEnergy’s military program and of the support he receives from John – as his supervisor. An employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve may nominate individual supervisors, managers or directors for support provided directly to the service member and his or her family.

“Even though the award has my name on it, it’s an honor that we all share at FirstEnergy. Having the unwavering support of executive leadership to ensure those who serve can do so without concern for their career is a tremendous help,” said John. “The crew, department or team that ensures our business keeps moving forward while a coworker is doing the important work of protecting our freedom, is a perfect example of what the award exemplifies. In reality, we are all recipients of this honor because we have a culture of coming together to support our military coworkers and their families.”

Honoring All
On Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11, we’ll honor those who have served in our armed services to protect the freedom we enjoy today.

The holiday holds a special place in John’s heart because his grandfather, father, uncles and a cousin have served our country.

“For me, Veterans Day is about never forgetting the millions of people who have served and given their lives over the last 246 years in so many ways,” he said “There are no words that can fully express our gratitude for those who put themselves in harm’s way. Honoring them on Veterans Day and supporting veterans’ causes can go a long way in showing our appreciation.”

John said he is thankful for Luke’s nomination.

“I wish Luke and all of our FirstEnergy service members well and pray for their safe return home. This award is something that has been earned by all employees through their commitment to one another as well as to our core values,” said John. “Supporting a culture that keeps our values at the forefront and provides the best service possible to our customers, defines who we are as a company and individuals. At the end of the day, all of these things are what makes FirstEnergy a great company.”