Defense Distinguished Service Medal

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
TypeDistinguished service medal
Awarded forExceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility
Presented byUnited States Department of Defense
EligibilityMembers of the United States Armed Forces
Reverse
ClaspsOak leaf cluster and authorized devices
StatusCurrently awarded
EstablishedJuly 9, 1970
First awardGeneral Earle Wheeler (1970)
Service ribbon
Precedence
Next (higher)Military Service Crosses (e.g., Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross)
EquivalentHomeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
Next (lower)Military Service Distinguished Service Medals (e.g., Army Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal)

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.[1]

The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is the highest precedence joint personal military decoration awarded by the Department of Defense. It is equivalent in stature to the Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal awarded by the United States Department of Homeland Security.

Criteria

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.

Appearance

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.

Devices

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]

Notable recipients

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

J

K

L

M

O

P

R

S

T

W

Z

References

  1. ^ "Executive Order 11545—Establishing the Defense Distinguished Service Medal" (PDF). Federal Register via GovInfo. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  2. ^ "DoD Manual 1348.33, Volume 4: Manual of Military Decorations and Awards—DoD Joint Decorations and Awards". Department of Defense. December 21, 2016. Retrieved 2026-03-02. Provides policy and guidance for Department of Defense joint personal military decorations, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, as amended by Change 6 effective September 19, 2023.
  3. ^ "DoD Manual 1348.33, Volume 4: Manual of Military Decorations and Awards—DoD Joint Decorations and Awards". Department of Defense. December 21, 2016. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  4. ^ "Jeremy Boorda - Recipient - Military Times Hall Of Valor". valor.militarytimes.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Lt. Gen. Flynn retires from DIA, 33-year Army career". Archived from the original on 2017-02-26. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
  6. ^ Watson, Eleanor (2025-12-12). "Commander overseeing U.S. forces in Caribbean relinquishes command early amid U.S. buildup near Venezuela". CBS News.
  7. ^ UPI (15 August 1986). "Computer Whiz Retires from Navy". Detroit Free Press. p. 4A. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  8. ^ "Daniel James, Jr., Awards and Citations". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  9. ^ "2000 ADM Larson". Nimitz.berkeley.edu. Archived from the original on 2013-09-27. Retrieved 2013-09-26.
  10. ^ "General Carl E. Mundy, Jr. - Retired, 30th Commandant of the Marine Corps". Senior Leader Services Portal, USMC. Archived from the original on 2012-02-20. Retrieved 2014-04-09.
  11. ^ "Defense Distinguished Service Medal Criteria, History and Recipients". Usafeenlistedheritage.org. 1970-07-09. Archived from the original on 2013-09-27. Retrieved 2013-09-26.
  12. ^ "General Anthony C. Zinni, USMC". Marine Corps Museum. Retrieved 2012-10-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
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