Defense Distinguished Service Medal

The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is awarded for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility while assigned to an organization or activity of the Department of Defense, including the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, combatant commands, defense agencies, or other joint duty assignments designated by the Secretary of Defense.

The medal is normally awarded to the most senior members of the Armed Forces whose duties bring them into direct and frequent contact with the Secretary of Defense and other senior government officials, and whose performance and contributions to national security or defense are at the highest levels. Typical recipients include the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, commanders of the combatant commands, service chiefs and vice chiefs, and other senior leaders with direct responsibility for major activities or programs that significantly influence United States defense policy.

The medal may also be awarded to other senior members whose individual contributions to national security or defense are recognized as being so exceptional in scope and value as to be equivalent to contributions normally associated with positions of broader responsibility. The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is intended to recognize sustained exceptionally meritorious service, and it is normally awarded for a period exceeding 12 months encompassing the entirety of a joint assignment.^[2]

The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is worn after the Military Service Crosses and before the Distinguished Service Medals of the individual military services. It is not awarded for a period of service for which a military service Distinguished Service Medal has been awarded.

The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is gold in color. The obverse features a medium blue enameled pentagon, point upward, superimposed with a bald eagle with wings outstretched grasping three crossed arrows. On the eagle’s breast is a shield bearing the arms of the United States. Surrounding the pentagon is a gold circle consisting of thirteen five-pointed stars in the upper half and a wreath of laurel and olive branches in the lower half. The suspension is composed of five graduated gold rays.

The reverse bears the inscription “For Distinguished Service” at the top, with the inscription “From the Secretary of Defense To” within the pentagon.

Subsequent awards of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal are denoted by oak leaf clusters. The medal may also be awarded with authorized devices, including the “C” device, in accordance with Department of Defense awards policy.^[3]