Defense Distinguished Service Medal

Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a prestigious award presented by the United States Department of Defense to recognize exceptional service and achievements by senior officers and civilians in the United States Armed Forces, including the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard. The award is equivalent to the Distinguished Service Medal (United States), which is presented by each branch of the military, and is considered one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon an individual by the Department of Defense. The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is often presented to individuals who have served in key positions, such as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Secretary of Defense, and other high-ranking officials, including General Colin Powell, General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., and Admiral Mike Mullen. The award is also presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and other international organizations, such as General Wesley Clark and General Joseph Ralston.

● History

The Defense Distinguished Service Medal was established on July 9, 1970, by President Richard Nixon to recognize exceptional service and achievements by senior officers and civilians in the United States Armed Forces. The award was created to provide a uniform standard for recognizing distinguished service across all branches of the military, and to provide a higher level of recognition than the Legion of Merit and other awards. The first Defense Distinguished Service Medal was presented to General Earle Wheeler, who served as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1964 to 1970, and other notable recipients include General Creighton Abrams, General William Westmoreland, and Admiral Elmo Zumwalt. The award has been presented to numerous individuals who have served in key positions, including General Alexander Haig, General Brent Scowcroft, and General Richard Myers, and has also been presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to the United States Department of State, such as Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright.

● Eligibility

The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is presented to senior officers and civilians in the United States Armed Forces who have demonstrated exceptional service and achievements, including General Martin Dempsey, General Raymond Odierno, and Admiral Jonathan Greenert. The award is typically presented to individuals who have served in key positions, such as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Secretary of Defense, and other high-ranking officials, including General David Petraeus, General Stanley McChrystal, and Admiral Michael Mullen. The award is also presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and other international organizations, such as General Wesley Clark and General Joseph Ralston, and to individuals who have served in key positions in the United States Department of State, such as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of State John Kerry. The award is often presented to individuals who have served in combat zones, including Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and to individuals who have made significant contributions to the United States Department of Homeland Security, such as Secretary Janet Napolitano and Secretary Jeh Johnson.

● Appearance

The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a gold medal that features a blue enamel disk with a gold eagle in the center, surrounded by a wreath of laurel leaves, and is suspended from a blue ribbon with a gold stripe, similar to the Distinguished Service Medal (United States). The award is often presented with a certificate and a lapel pin, and is considered one of the most prestigious awards in the United States Armed Forces, along with the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross (United States), and Navy Cross. The award is worn on the uniform, and is often displayed in a place of honor, such as the Pentagon or the White House, and is also displayed in museums, such as the National Museum of the United States Army and the National Museum of the United States Navy.

● Notable Recipients

The Defense Distinguished Service Medal has been presented to numerous notable individuals, including General Colin Powell, General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., and Admiral Mike Mullen, who have served in key positions, such as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defense. Other notable recipients include General Alexander Haig, General Brent Scowcroft, and General Richard Myers, who have made significant contributions to the United States Department of State and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, including Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright. The award has also been presented to individuals who have served in combat zones, including Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, such as General David Petraeus and General Stanley McChrystal, and to individuals who have made significant contributions to the United States Department of Homeland Security, such as Secretary Janet Napolitano and Secretary Jeh Johnson.

● Awards and Wear

The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is often presented in conjunction with other awards, such as the Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Service Medal (United States), and is considered one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon an individual by the Department of Defense. The award is worn on the uniform, and is often displayed in a place of honor, such as the Pentagon or the White House, and is also displayed in museums, such as the National Museum of the United States Army and the National Museum of the United States Navy. The award is also presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to the United States Department of State, such as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of State John Kerry, and to individuals who have served in key positions in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, such as General Wesley Clark and General Joseph Ralston. The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a prestigious award that recognizes exceptional service and achievements by senior officers and civilians in the United States Armed Forces, and is considered a high honor, along with the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross (United States), and Navy Cross.

Category:Military awards and decorations of the United States