Defense Department Honors Studios

Universal Studios this week received the U.S. Defense Department’s Pro Patria award, the first time the distinction has been bestowed on a California company employing National Guard and Reserve members, studio officials said.

The award, presented Thursday, is traditionally given to companies that allow their employees time away from their jobs to fulfill short- and long-term military obligations, defense officials said.

Universal is an example of a company whose employees serve these agencies without “harassment or worry about their job security,” said Robert Varni of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense.

The studio was nominated for the honor by employee Maj. Donna Hinton, a post editorial assistant coordinator of Universal Studios Operations Group.

Company officials said that Hinton has been serving as an Army Reserve civil affairs officer on a one-year peacekeeping mission in Bosnia that ends in February.

Universal Studios officials said that in the past seven years, Hinton has served from one to three months in Panama, Thailand and Haiti.

Universal President and Chief Operating Officer Ron Meyer accepted the award Thursday from Brig. Gen. James Comstock, deputy commander of the 311th Corps Support Command.