SALT LAKE CITY — Sen. Jerry Stevenson, R-Layton, has been given the 2017 State Leadership Award from the Association of Defense Communities for his years of advocacy on behalf of Hill Air Force Base’s military mission and economic development activities.

Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, presented the award June 20 at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., during the 2017 Defense Communities National Summit hosted by the association.

Stevenson’s support for Hill Air Force Base has spanned more than two decades, beginning with his eight-year stint on the Layton City Council and then 12 years as Layton's mayor.

Among Stevenson's many other achievements, he championed growth and eventually became president of the Utah Defense Alliance, which has led the state’s base advocacy and support efforts in the Air Force and at the Pentagon.

“Sen. Stevenson has been a Hill Air Force Base ally as a community member, a business owner, a mayor, a state administrator and now as a senator,” Michael Cooper, president of the association, said in a statement. “He is able to bring to the table a unique perspective on how to support the installation, community, military families and our military readiness. His leadership is appreciated not just in Utah but among defense community leaders across the country.”

The Association of Defense Communities bills itself as an organization that leads the nation in representing communities and states with a significant military presence, as well as their partner organizations.