- Established
- 1970
- Awarded by
- All services (joint assignments)
- Criteria
- Exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security in a position of unique and great responsibility.
- Precedence
- #6 of 18 in this guide · below Coast Guard Cross · above Distinguished Service Medals (Army, Navy, Air & Space Forces, Coast Guard)
The highest non-combat decoration awarded by the Department of Defense, typically to senior officers such as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and combatant commanders.
From Wikipedia
The Defense Distinguished Service Medal (DDSM) is a military decoration of the United States Department of Defense. It is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility contributing to the national security or defense of the United States. The medal was established on July 9, 1970, by President Richard Nixon in Executive Order 11545. The first award was presented to General Earle Wheeler upon his retirement after service as Chief of Staff of the United States Army and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Excerpt from “Defense Distinguished Service Medal” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable recipients
- Chiang Kai-shek1887–1975 · Chinese Civil War
- Colin Powell1937–2021 · Gulf War
- Grace Hopper1906–1992 · World War II
- Robert McNamara1916–2009 · World War II
- Lloyd J. Austin III1953 · War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- Jim Mattis1950 · War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- David Petraeus1952 · War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- Alexander Haig1924–2010 · Korean War
- Bruce McCandless II1937–2017
- David M. Brown1956–2003
- Creighton Abrams1914–1974 · World War II
- Arthur Tedder, 1st Baron Tedder1890–1967 · World War II
- John F. Kelly1950 · Gulf War
- Martin Dempsey1952 · Gulf War
- Stanley A. McChrystal1954 · War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Images: medal (Public domain, United States military); ribbon (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons.
