MSUM’s director of public safety Ryan Nelson and patrol lieutenant Mitch Osland received the Patriot Award for support of employees who serve in the National Guard. (From left) Matthew Stubstad, Olsland, Lois Robinson of ESGR, and Nelson.

Minnesota State University Moorhead Director of Public Safety Ryan Nelson and Patrol Operations Lieutenant Mitch Osland have been honored for their support of the National Guard and Reserve. The two were nominated by Matthew Stubstad, a sergeant in the Army National Guard and MSUM campus security sergeant.
The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award is presented to employers who support the Guard’s citizen warriors on the job. It recognizes measures taken to support Guard members, including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families, and granting leaves of absence if needed.
The two MSUM public safety employees were nominated by Matthew Stubstad, a sergeant in the Army National Guard and MSUM Campus Security Sergeant, nominated Nelson and Osland.
“Ryan and Mitch have always been very supportive of my military service,” Stubstad said in his nomination. “They even have allowed additional time off to accommodate for travel and rest periods beyond what they’re required to do. They’ve incorporated my military skills, such as entrusting me with instructor roles in the department based on my experience as a military instructor.” Not all soldiers, he said, receive that kind of support from their employers.
Stubstad added, “MSUM as a whole has been very pro-veteran and pro-service member. I wanted to recognize my direct supervisors and the Public Safety Department.”