In what reflects both a dedication to public service and a recognition of the value that military experience brings to civilian roles, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has recently been accoladed for its exemplary support of employees who also dedicate their time to the National Guard and Reserves. This delicate balancing act, where individuals commit to their roles in civil infrastructure along with their military obligations, has been met with a commendable flexibility by ADOT.
According to an announcement by ADOT, the organization and two of its Tucson-area supervisors were honored by the Department of Defense’s Employer Support for Guard and Reserve (ESGR). They were celebrated for the support extended to employee and National Guard Specialist Ariel Platt. Platt, who himself is a construction inspector with ADOT and serves in the National Guard, has praised his employers for their understanding and adjustment to his demanding schedule.
"If I’m gone on military orders, I’m not exactly having time off. I’m training. I’m serving," Platt said. "That understanding means a lot." Platt took it upon himself to nominate his supervisors, Jeremy Moore and Anthony Torres, for the ESGR’s Patriot Award—a recognition that directly results from an employee’s nomination, underscoring the importance of personal acknowledgment in the workplace.
Over the past two years, ADOT employees have honored a total of nine supervisors with such recognitions, which speaks volumes about the culture of respect and support within the organization. ADOT Director Jennifer Toth emphasized that the agency actively seeks and hires military veterans. "We believe their skills are very valuable, especially from a leadership standpoint at the agency," Toth said. "The adjustments you have to make for the time away are well worth the leadership skills they bring to the agency."
