Defense Distinguished Service Medal: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|US Defense Department military decoration}}
{{Short description|US Defense Department military decoration}}
{{Infobox military award
{{Infobox award
|name=Defense Distinguished Service Medal
| name = Defense Distinguished Service Medal
|image=Defense Distinguished Service Medal.png
| image = Defense Distinguished Service Medal.png
|image_size=150px
| image_size = 150px
|caption=
| caption =  
|presenter=[[United States Department of Defense]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodm/134833v2_dodm_2016.pdf |title=Issuances |date=2016 |website=www.esd.whs.mil |access-date=2018-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912013545/http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodm/134833v2_dodm_2016.pdf |archive-date=2017-09-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| presenter = [[United States Department of Defense]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodm/134833v2_dodm_2016.pdf |title=Issuances |date=2016 |website=www.esd.whs.mil |access-date=2018-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912013545/http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodm/134833v2_dodm_2016.pdf |archive-date=2017-09-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|type=[[Distinguished service medal]]
| type = [[Distinguished service medal]]
|eligibility=[[United States Armed Forces]] service members
| eligibility = [[United States Armed Forces]] service members
|awarded_for=Exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility
| awarded_for = Exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility
|status=Currently awarded
| status = Currently awarded
|description=
| description =  
|clasps=[[Oak leaf cluster]] for subsequent awards
| clasps = [[Oak leaf cluster]] for subsequent awards
|established=July 9, 1970
| established = July 9, 1970
|firstawarded= General [[Earle Wheeler]] (1970)
| firstawarded = General [[Earle Wheeler]] (1970)
|lastawarded=
| lastawarded =  
|total_awarded=
| total_awarded =  
|total_awarded_posthumously=
| total_awarded_posthumously =  
|total_recipients=
| total_recipients =  
|individual=
| individual =  
|higher=Army: [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] <br/> Naval Service: [[Navy Cross]] <br/> Air and Space Forces: [[Air Force Cross (United States)|Air Force Cross]] <br/> Coast Guard: [[Coast Guard Cross]]
| higher = Army: [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] <br/> Naval Service: [[Navy Cross]] <br/> Air and Space Forces: [[Air Force Cross (United States)|Air Force Cross]] <br/> Coast Guard: [[Coast Guard Cross]]
|same=Department of Homeland Security: [[Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal]]
| same = Department of Homeland Security: [[Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal]]
|lower=Army: [[Army Distinguished Service Medal|Distinguished Service Medal (Army)]] <br/> Naval Service: [[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]]<br/> Air and Space Forces: [[Air Force Distinguished Service Medal|Distinguished Service Medal (Air and Space Forces)]] <br/> Coast Guard: [[Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal]]
| lower = Army: [[Army Distinguished Service Medal|Distinguished Service Medal (Army)]] <br/> Naval Service: [[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]]<br/> Air and Space Forces: [[Air Force Distinguished Service Medal|Distinguished Service Medal (Air and Space Forces)]] <br/> Coast Guard: [[Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal]]
|image2=[[Image:Defense Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|124px|border]]
| image2 = [[Image:Defense Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|124px|border]]
|caption2=[[Service ribbon]]
| caption2 = [[Service ribbon]]
| reverse = [[File:Defense Distinguished Service Medal Reverse.jpg|100px]]
}}
}}


The '''Defense Distinguished Service Medal''' is a [[Awards and decorations of the United States military|military decoration]] of the [[United States Department of Defense]], which is presented to United States Armed Forces service members for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to the national security or defense of the United States. The medal was created on July 9, 1970, by President [[Richard Nixon]] in {{ExecutiveOrder|11545}}.<ref>[http://www.afpc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7727 Air Force Personnel Center Defense Distinguished Service Medal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616150027/http://www.afpc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7727 |date=2011-06-16 }}</ref> President Nixon awarded the first medal, on the day the Executive Order was signed, to General [[Earle Wheeler]], who was retiring from the US Army after serving as [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army]] and then [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]].
The '''Defense Distinguished Service Medal''' is a [[Awards and decorations of the United States military|military decoration]] of the [[United States Department of Defense]], which is presented to United States Armed Forces service members for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to the national security or defense of the United States. The medal was created on July 9, 1970, by President [[Richard Nixon]] in {{ExecutiveOrder|11545}}.<ref>[http://www.afpc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7727 Air Force Personnel Center Defense Distinguished Service Medal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616150027/http://www.afpc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7727 |date=2011-06-16 }}</ref> President Nixon awarded the first medal, on the day the Executive Order was signed, to General [[Earle Wheeler]], who was retiring from the US Army after serving as [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army]] and then [[chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]].


It is equivalent to the [[United States Department of Homeland Security]]'s [[Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal]].
It is equivalent to the [[United States Department of Homeland Security]]'s [[Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal]].


==Criteria==
==Criteria==
The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is the United States Department of Defense's highest non-combat related military award and it is the highest joint service decoration. The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is awarded only while assigned to a joint activity. Normally, such responsibilities deserving of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal are held by the most senior officers such as the [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff|Chairman]] and [[Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]], the chiefs and vice chiefs of the military services, and commanders and deputy commanders of the [[Combatant Command]]s, the [[Director of the Joint Staff]], and others whose duties bring them frequently into direct contact with the [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]], the [[United States Deputy Secretary of Defense|Deputy Secretary of Defense]], and other senior government officials. In addition, the medal may also be awarded to other service members whose direct and individual contributions to national security or national defense are recognized as being so exceptional in scope and value as to be equivalent to contributions normally associated with positions encompassing broader responsibilities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Defense Distinguished Service Medal |url=http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/defense_distinguished.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518005213/http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/defense_distinguished.aspx |archive-date=2013-05-18 |url-status=dead |department=Decorations and Awards: U.S. Armed Forces and Department of Defense Decorations |publisher=The Institute of Heraldry |access-date=2018-12-09 }}</ref>
The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is the United States Department of Defense's highest non-combat related military award and it is the highest joint service decoration. The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is awarded only while assigned to a joint activity. Normally, such responsibilities deserving of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal are held by the most senior officers such as the [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff|chairman]] and [[Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff|vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]], the chiefs and vice chiefs of the military services, and commanders and deputy commanders of the [[combatant commands]], the [[director of the Joint Staff]], and others whose duties bring them frequently into direct contact with the [[United States Secretary of Defense|secretary of defense]], the [[United States Deputy Secretary of Defense|deputy secretary of defense]], and other senior government officials. In addition, the medal may also be awarded to other service members whose direct and individual contributions to national security or national defense are recognized as being so exceptional in scope and value as to be equivalent to contributions normally associated with positions encompassing broader responsibilities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Defense Distinguished Service Medal |url=http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/defense_distinguished.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518005213/http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/defense_distinguished.aspx |archive-date=2013-05-18 |url-status=dead |department=Decorations and Awards: U.S. Armed Forces and Department of Defense Decorations |publisher=The Institute of Heraldry |access-date=2018-12-09 }}</ref>


This decoration takes precedence over the Distinguished Service Medals of the services and is not to be awarded to any individual for a period of service for which an [[Army Distinguished Service Medal|Army]], [[Navy Distinguished Service Medal|Navy]], [[Air Force Distinguished Service Medal|Air Force]] or [[Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal]] is awarded.
This decoration takes precedence over the Distinguished Service Medals of the services and is not to be awarded to any individual for a period of service for which an [[Army Distinguished Service Medal|Army]], [[Navy Distinguished Service Medal|Navy]], [[Air Force Distinguished Service Medal|Air Force]] or [[Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal]] is awarded.
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==Notable recipients==
==Notable recipients==
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
 
* [[Ramon Colon-Lopez]] (first enlisted recipient)
=== A ===
* [[Jonathan Howe]] (six awards)
* [[John Abizaid]] (three awards)
* [[Creighton Abrams]] (two awards)
* [[John R. Allen]] (three awards)
* [[Lloyd Austin]] (five awards)
* [[Lloyd Austin]] (five awards)
* [[Wesley Clark]] (five awards)
 
* [[Raymond T. Odierno]] (five awards)
=== B ===
* [[Troy E. Black]]
* [[Dennis C. Blair]] (four awards)
* [[Dennis C. Blair]] (four awards)
* [[James B. Busey IV]] (four awards)
* [[Gregg A. Blevins]]
* [[George W. Casey Jr.]] (four awards)
* [[William J. Crowe]] (four awards)
* [[James L. Jones]] (four awards)
* [[Timothy J. Keating]] (four awards)
* [[Michael Mullen]] (four awards)
* [[Richard Myers]] (four awards)
* [[Peter Pace]] (four awards)
* [[David Petraeus]] (four awards)
* [[Colin Powell]] (four awards)
* [[Victor E. Renuart Jr.]] (four awards)
* [[John Shalikashvili]] (four awards)
* [[Hugh Shelton]] (four awards)
* [[John Abizaid]] (three awards)
* [[John R. Allen]] (three awards)
* [[Peter W. Chiarelli]] (three awards)
* [[Vern Clark]] (three awards)
* [[James T. Conway]] (three awards)
* [[Martin Dempsey]] (three awards)
* [[Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr.]] (three awards)
* [[Gregory G. Johnson]] (three awards)
* [[George Joulwan]] (three awards)
* [[William H. McRaven]] (three awards)
* [[David M. Rodriguez]] (three awards)
* [[Curtis Scaparrotti]] (three awards)
* [[Peter Schoomaker]] (three awards)
* [[Kurt W. Tidd]] (three awards)
* [[Thomas D. Waldhauser]] (three awards)
* [[William E. Ward]] (three awards)
* [[James A. Winnefeld Jr.]] (three awards)
* [[Creighton Abrams]] (two awards)
* [[Jeremy M. Boorda]] (two awards)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=55014|title=Jeremy Boorda - Recipient - Military Times Hall Of Valor|website=valor.militarytimes.com|access-date=23 March 2018}}</ref>
* [[Jeremy M. Boorda]] (two awards)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=55014|title=Jeremy Boorda - Recipient - Military Times Hall Of Valor|website=valor.militarytimes.com|access-date=23 March 2018}}</ref>
* [[Frank Bowman]]
* [[Philip M. Breedlove]]
* [[William A. Brown (admiral)|William A. Brown]] (two awards)
* [[William A. Brown (admiral)|William A. Brown]] (two awards)
* [[Bantz J. Craddock]] (two awards)
* [[Walter Doran]] (two awards)
* [[James O. Ellis]] (two awards)
* [[William J. Fallon]] (two awards)
* [[Noel Gayler]] (two awards)
* [[Andrew Goodpaster]] (two awards)
* [[William E. Gortney]] (two awards)
* [[Alexander Haig]] (two awards)
* [[Harry B. Harris Jr.]] (two awards)
* [[Thomas B. Hayward]] (two awards)
* [[James L. Holloway III]] (two awards)
* [[Jay L. Johnson]] (two awards)
* [[Frank B. Kelso II]] (two awards)
* [[Joseph D. Kernan]] (two awards)
* [[George E. R. Kinnear II]] (two awards)
* [[Samuel J. Locklear]] (two awards)
* [[Deborah Loewer]] (two awards)
* [[Jim Mattis]] (two awards)
* [[Stanley A. McChrystal]] (two awards)
* [[Mark Milley]] (two awards)
* [[Thomas Hinman Moorer]] (two awards)
* [[Donald L. Pilling]] (two awards)
* [[Joseph Ralston]] (two awards)
* [[Bernard W. Rogers]] (two awards)
* [[Eric Shinseki]] (two awards)
* [[James G. Stavridis]] (two awards)
* [[Patricia Ann Tracey]] (two awards)
* [[Carlisle A.H. Trost]] (two awards)
* [[James D. Watkins]] (two awards)
* [[Maurice F. Weisner]] (two awards)
* [[Anthony Zinni]] (two awards)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marinecorpsmuseum.org/tohonor/aczinni.html |title=General Anthony C. Zinni, USMC |publisher=Marine Corps Museum |access-date=2012-10-28 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415092414/http://www.marinecorpsmuseum.org/tohonor/aczinni.html |archive-date=2013-04-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[J. H. Binford Peay III]]
* [[Philip M. Breedlove]]
* [[Frank Bowman]]
* [[Nancy Elizabeth Brown]]
* [[Nancy Elizabeth Brown]]
* [[James B. Busey IV]] (four awards)
* [[Ronald Burgess]] (two awards)
* [[Ronald Burgess]] (two awards)
=== C ===
* [[Wendi B. Carpenter]]
* [[Wendi B. Carpenter]]
* [[George W. Casey Jr.]] (four awards)
* [[Peter W. Chiarelli]] (three awards)
* [[Wesley Clark]] (five awards)
* [[Vern Clark]] (three awards)
* [[Bruce W. Clingan]]
* [[Bruce W. Clingan]]
* [[Ramon Colon-Lopez]]
* [[Robert H. Conn]]
* [[Robert H. Conn]]
* [[James T. Conway]] (three awards)
* [[Jay Coupe, Jr.]]
* [[Bantz J. Craddock]] (two awards)
* [[William J. Crowe]] (four awards)
=== D ===
* [[Michael P. DeLong]]
* [[Michael P. DeLong]]
* [[Martin Dempsey]] (three awards)
* [[Walter Doran]] (two awards)
=== E ===
* [[Leon A. Edney]]
* [[Leon A. Edney]]
* [[James O. Ellis]] (two awards)
=== F ===
* [[Craig S. Faller]]
* [[Craig S. Faller]]
* [[William J. Fallon]] (two awards)
* [[Mark E. Ferguson III]]
* [[Mark E. Ferguson III]]
* [[James R. Fitzgerald]]
* [[James R. Fitzgerald]]
Line 132: Line 96:
* [[Tommy Franks]]
* [[Tommy Franks]]
* [[Douglas M. Fraser]]
* [[Douglas M. Fraser]]
=== G ===
* [[John Galvin (general)|John Galvin]]
* [[John Galvin (general)|John Galvin]]
* [[Noel Gayler]] (two awards)
* [[Harold W. Gehman Jr.]]
* [[Harold W. Gehman Jr.]]
* [[Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr.]] (three awards)
* [[Andrew Goodpaster]] (two awards)
* [[William E. Gortney]] (two awards)
* [[Jonathan W. Greenert]]
* [[Jonathan W. Greenert]]
=== H ===
* [[Alexander Haig]] (two awards)
* [[Cecil D. Haney]]
* [[Cecil D. Haney]]
* [[Huntington Hardisty]]
* [[Huntington Hardisty]]
* [[Harry B. Harris Jr.]] (two awards)
* [[John C. Harvey Jr.]]
* [[John C. Harvey Jr.]]
* [[Thomas B. Hayward]] (two awards)
* [[Bradley A. Heithold]]
* [[James L. Holloway III]] (two awards)
* [[Grace Hopper]]<ref>{{Cite news |work=[[Detroit Free Press]] |date=15 August 1986 |page=4A |url=http://www.waterholes.com/~dennette/1996/hopper/860815.htm |title=Computer Whiz Retires from Navy |author=UPI |author-link=United Press International |access-date=2018-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222204821/http://www.waterholes.com/~dennette/1996/hopper/860815.htm |archive-date=2014-02-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Michelle Howard]]
* [[Michelle Howard]]
* [[Grace Hopper]]<ref>{{Cite news |work=[[Detroit Free Press]] |date=15 August 1986 |page=4A |url=http://www.waterholes.com/~dennette/1996/hopper/860815.htm |title=Computer Whiz Retires from Navy |author=UPI |author-link=United Press International |access-date=2018-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222204821/http://www.waterholes.com/~dennette/1996/hopper/860815.htm |archive-date=2014-02-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Jonathan Howe]] (six awards)
* [[Rick Husband]]
* [[Rick Husband]]
* [[Daniel James Jr.]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=45297 |title=Daniel James , Jr., Awards and Citations|website=Hall of Valor |publisher=Military Times |access-date=4 June 2015}}</ref>
 
=== J ===
* [[Daniel James Jr.]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=45297 |title=Daniel James, Jr., Awards and Citations|website=Hall of Valor |publisher=Military Times |access-date=4 June 2015}}</ref>
* [[David E. Jeremiah]]
* [[David E. Jeremiah]]
* [[Gregory G. Johnson]] (three awards)
* [[Jay L. Johnson]] (two awards)
* [[James L. Jones]] (four awards)
* [[George Joulwan]] (three awards)
* [[Eldon W. Joersz]]
=== K ===
* [[Timothy J. Keating]] (four awards)
* [[John F. Kelly]]
* [[John F. Kelly]]
* [[Joseph D. Kernan]] (two awards)
* [[Frank B. Kelso II]] (two awards)
* [[Isaac C. Kidd Jr.]]
* [[Isaac C. Kidd Jr.]]
* [[George E. R. Kinnear II]] (two awards)
* [[Alexander F. Krichevsky]]
=== L ===
* [[Charles R. Larson]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nimitz.berkeley.edu/pastspeaker-2000.html |title=2000 ADM Larson |publisher=Nimitz.berkeley.edu |access-date=2013-09-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927175923/http://nimitz.berkeley.edu/pastspeaker-2000.html |archive-date=2013-09-27 }}</ref>
* [[Charles R. Larson]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nimitz.berkeley.edu/pastspeaker-2000.html |title=2000 ADM Larson |publisher=Nimitz.berkeley.edu |access-date=2013-09-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927175923/http://nimitz.berkeley.edu/pastspeaker-2000.html |archive-date=2013-09-27 }}</ref>
* [[Samuel J. Locklear]] (two awards)
* [[Deborah Loewer]] (two awards)
* [[Thomas J. Lopez]]
* [[Thomas J. Lopez]]
=== M ===
* [[Richard C. Macke]]
* [[Richard C. Macke]]
* [[Jim Mattis]] (two awards)
* [[Stanley A. McChrystal]] (two awards)
* [[William C. McCool]]
* [[William C. McCool]]
* [[Wesley L. McDonald]]
* [[Wesley L. McDonald]]
* [[William H. McRaven]] (three awards)
* [[Richard W. Mies]]
* [[Richard W. Mies]]
* [[Michael H. Miller]]
* [[Michael H. Miller]]
* [[Carl Epting Mundy Jr.]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=General Carl E. Mundy, Jr. - Retired, 30th Commandant of the Marine Corps |url=https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/GOSA/Biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID%3D244%26PERSON_TYPE%3DGeneral |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220042804/https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/GOSA/Biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=244&PERSON_TYPE=General |archive-date=2012-02-20 |url-status=dead |publisher=Senior Leader Services Portal, USMC |access-date=2014-04-09 }}</ref>  
* [[Mark Milley]] (two awards)
* [[Thomas Hinman Moorer]] (two awards)
* [[Michael Mullen]] (four awards)
* [[Carl Epting Mundy Jr.]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=General Carl E. Mundy, Jr. - Retired, 30th Commandant of the Marine Corps |url=https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/GOSA/Biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID%3D244%26PERSON_TYPE%3DGeneral |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220042804/https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/GOSA/Biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=244&PERSON_TYPE=General |archive-date=2012-02-20 |url-status=dead |publisher=Senior Leader Services Portal, USMC |access-date=2014-04-09 }}</ref>
* [[Richard Myers]] (four awards)
 
=== O ===
* [[Raymond T. Odierno]] (five awards)
* [[Eric T. Olson]]
* [[Eric T. Olson]]
* [[William A. Owens]]
* [[William A. Owens]]
=== P ===
* [[Peter Pace]] (four awards)
* [[J. H. Binford Peay III]]
* [[David Petraeus]] (four awards)
* [[Donald L. Pilling]] (two awards)
* [[Colin Powell]] (four awards)
* [[Joseph Prueher]]
* [[Joseph Prueher]]
=== R ===
* [[Joseph Ralston]] (two awards)
* [[Dennis Reimer]]
* [[Dennis Reimer]]
* [[Victor E. Renuart Jr.]] (four awards)
* [[David M. Rodriguez]] (three awards)
* [[Bernard W. Rogers]] (two awards)
* [[Gary Roughead]]
* [[Gary Roughead]]
=== S ===
* [[Ricardo Sanchez]]
* [[Ricardo Sanchez]]
* [[Curtis Scaparrotti]] (three awards)
* [[Peter Schoomaker]] (three awards)
* [[Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.]]
* [[Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.]]
* [[Leighton W. Smith Jr.]]
* [[Leighton W. Smith Jr.]]
* [[Eric Shinseki]] (two awards)
* [[John Shalikashvili]] (four awards)
* [[Hugh Shelton]] (four awards)
* [[James G. Stavridis]] (two awards)
* [[Vincent R. Stewart]]
* [[Vincent R. Stewart]]
=== T ===
* [[Patricia Ann Tracey]] (two awards)
* [[Carlisle A.H. Trost]] (two awards)
* [[Stephen J. Townsend]]
* [[Kurt W. Tidd]] (three awards)
* [[Harry D. Train II]]
* [[Harry D. Train II]]
* [[Stephen J. Townsend]]
* [[Thomas D. Waldhauser]] (three awards)
* [[Carlisle Trost]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naany.org/Carl%20Trost%20event.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415123236/http://www.naany.org/Carl%20Trost%20event.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=2013-04-15 |title=Carl Trost is set for March 2 |publisher=Naany.org |access-date=2012-10-28 }}</ref>
 
=== W ===
* [[William E. Ward]] (three awards)
* [[H. Marshal Ward]]
* [[James D. Watkins]] (two awards)
* [[Maurice F. Weisner]] (two awards)
* [[Earle Wheeler]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://usafeenlistedheritage.org/distinguished/decorated/criteria/?id=11 |title=Defense Distinguished Service Medal Criteria, History and Recipients |publisher=Usafeenlistedheritage.org |date=1970-07-09 |access-date=2013-09-26 |archive-date=2013-09-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927200359/http://usafeenlistedheritage.org/distinguished/decorated/criteria/?id=11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Earle Wheeler]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://usafeenlistedheritage.org/distinguished/decorated/criteria/?id=11 |title=Defense Distinguished Service Medal Criteria, History and Recipients |publisher=Usafeenlistedheritage.org |date=1970-07-09 |access-date=2013-09-26 |archive-date=2013-09-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927200359/http://usafeenlistedheritage.org/distinguished/decorated/criteria/?id=11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Charles E. Wilhelm]]
* [[Charles E. Wilhelm]]
* [[Alexander F. Krichevsky]]
* [[Robert F. Willard]]
* [[Robert F. Willard]]
* [[James A. Winnefeld Jr.]] (three awards)
=== Z ===
* [[Ronald J. Zlatoper]]
* [[Ronald J. Zlatoper]]
* [[Bradley A. Heithold]]
* [[Anthony Zinni]] (two awards)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marinecorpsmuseum.org/tohonor/aczinni.html |title=General Anthony C. Zinni, USMC |publisher=Marine Corps Museum |access-date=2012-10-28 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415092414/http://www.marinecorpsmuseum.org/tohonor/aczinni.html |archive-date=2013-04-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Gregg A. Blevins]]
* [[John Zirkelbach]] (two awards)
* [[H. Marshal Ward]]
{{div col end}}- John Zirkelbach (two awards)
* Jay Coupe, Jr.


==References==
==References==
Line 180: Line 219:


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{Commons category inline|Defense Distinguished Service Medal (United States)}}
* {{Commons category-inline|Defense Distinguished Service Medal (United States)}}


{{US interservice decorations}}
{{US interservice decorations}}

Latest revision as of 18:47, 2 November 2025

Template:Short description Template:Infobox award

The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a military decoration of the United States Department of Defense, which is presented to United States Armed Forces service members for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to the national security or defense of the United States. The medal was created on July 9, 1970, by President Richard Nixon in Template:ExecutiveOrder.[1] President Nixon awarded the first medal, on the day the Executive Order was signed, to General Earle Wheeler, who was retiring from the US Army after serving as Chief of Staff of the United States Army and then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

It is equivalent to the United States Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal.

Criteria

The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is the United States Department of Defense's highest non-combat related military award and it is the highest joint service decoration. The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is awarded only while assigned to a joint activity. Normally, such responsibilities deserving of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal are held by the most senior officers such as the chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the chiefs and vice chiefs of the military services, and commanders and deputy commanders of the combatant commands, the director of the Joint Staff, and others whose duties bring them frequently into direct contact with the secretary of defense, the deputy secretary of defense, and other senior government officials. In addition, the medal may also be awarded to other service members whose direct and individual contributions to national security or national defense are recognized as being so exceptional in scope and value as to be equivalent to contributions normally associated with positions encompassing broader responsibilities.[2]

This decoration takes precedence over the Distinguished Service Medals of the services and is not to be awarded to any individual for a period of service for which an Army, Navy, Air Force or Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is awarded.

Appearance

The medal is gold in color and on the obverse it features a medium blue enameled pentagon (point up). Superimposed on this is an American bald eagle with wings outspread facing left grasping three crossed arrows in its talons and on its breast is a shield of the United States. The pentagon and eagle are enclosed within a gold pieced circle consisting, in the upper half of 13 five-pointed stars and in the lower half, a wreath of laurel on the left and olive on the right. At the top is a suspender of five graduated gold rays. The reverse of the medal has the inscription "For Distinguished Service" at the top in raised letters, and within the pentagon the inscription "FROM THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE TO", all in raised letters.

Additional awards of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal are denoted by oak leaf clusters.

Notable recipients

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References

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External links

Template:US interservice decorations Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ Air Force Personnel Center Defense Distinguished Service Medal Template:Webarchive
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