Jason Heath, Vice President of Campus Technology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, was presented with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award on Tuesday, October 1, 2025.
Heath was nominated for the award by Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Lovett, who serves both as the seminary’s Director of Network Services and as a chaplain with the Indiana National Guard. The Patriot Award recognizes individual supervisors who provide exceptional support to employees serving in the National Guard or Reserve.
“This is a good place to work and I appreciate all of you,” Lovett said during the presentation ceremony held on campus. “My supervisor is the recipient of the award, but I wanted it to represent the way the whole seminary has supported me through the times that I’ve been away.”
Lovett has served in the Guard since 2012 and was hired by Southern Seminary in February 2013. Throughout his tenure, he has been called away numerous times for military service, including a 10-month deployment in 2024 that took him to Tower 22 in Jordan, where he served as base chaplain following a deadly attack that killed three soldiers and injured many others.
During his deployment, Lovett witnessed ongoing attacks including Iranian missile strikes on Israel. Throughout this challenging period, he expressed confidence knowing the seminary’s operations were in capable hands.
“In a way it feels strange to receive any recognition for just doing a normal, right thing,” Heath said. “Ken is an exceptional leader not only in his role in Campus Tech, but also in the National Guard, with his family, and among his friends. To do whatever we can to honor his service and sacrifice for our country is good and right. I am extremely appreciative that Ken thought to honor SBTS and myself.”
The ESGR, a Department of War organization, presents Patriot Awards to supervisors who demonstrate support for citizen warriors through flexible schedules, time off before and after deployment, family care, and leaves of absence when needed.
Heath’s support extended beyond workplace flexibility. The seminary community, along with Hurstbourne Baptist Church, provided consistent support to Lovett’s family throughout the deployment, ensuring his wife Sarah and their children were cared for during his absence.
The presentation was conducted by representatives from ESGR, with seminary leadership in attendance to honor Heath’s commitment to supporting military service members.