Awards and decorations of the United States government

Awards and decorations of the United States government are civilian awards of the U.S. federal government which are typically issued for sustained meritorious service, in a civilian capacity, while serving in the U.S. federal government. Certain U.S. government awards may also be issued to military personnel of the United States armed forces and be worn in conjunction with awards and decorations of the United States military. In order of precedence, those U.S. non-military awards and decorations authorized for wear, are worn after U.S. military personal decorations and unit awards and before U.S. military campaign and service awards.

The following is a selection of civilian awards which are presently issued by the U.S. government.

Office of the President of the United States

• Presidential Medal of Freedom

• Presidential Citizens Medal

• Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor

• Medal for Merit (no longer awarded)

• Medal of Freedom (no longer awarded)

• President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service

• Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching^[1]

• Presidential Award for Leadership in Federal Energy Management^[2]

• Preserve America Presidential Award^[3]

• President's Environmental Youth Award^[4]

Senior Executive Service

• Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive

• Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive

• Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Senior Professional

• Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Senior Professional

United States Congress

• Chaplain's Medal for Heroism (no precedence specified; primacy inferred)
• Congressional Gold Medal
• Congressional Silver Medal[
• Congressional Award for Youth

United States Intelligence Community

The National Intelligence Awards (NIA) Program is administered by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for the United States Intelligence Community (IC).^[5]

National Intelligence Community Awards

• National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal

• Intelligence Community Intelligence Cross

• Intelligence Community Medal for Valor (ICMV)

• National Intelligence Career Achievement Medal (NICAM)

• National Intelligence Reform Medal (NIRM)

• National Intelligence Medal of Achievement (NIAM)

• Director of National Intelligence for Collaborative Leadership (DNIACL)

• National Intelligence Community Equal Opportunity and Diversity Award (NICEEODA)

• Intelligence Community EEO and Diversity Exemplary Leadership Award

• Intelligence Community EEO and Diversity Outstanding Achievement Award

• National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Commendation (NIMUC)

• National Intelligence Medallion (NIM)

• National Intelligence Certificate of Distinction (NICD)

• National Intelligence Special Act or Service Award (NISASA)

• Galileo Award

Former award prior to establishment of the NIA Program

• National Security Medal

National Intelligence Public Service Awards

• National Intelligence Distinguished Public Service Medal

• National Intelligence Superior Public Service Medal

Central Intelligence Agency^[6]

• Distinguished Intelligence Cross (Valor Award)

• Distinguished Intelligence Medal

• Intelligence Star (Valor Award)

• Intelligence Medal of Merit

• Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal

• Career Intelligence Medal

• Career Commendation Medal

• Intelligence Commendation Medal

• Exceptional Service Medal

• Hostile Action Service Medal

• Agency Seal Medal

• Gold Retirement Medallion

• Silver Retirement Medallion

• Bronze Retirement Medallion

Department of Commerce

• Department of Commerce Gold Medal

• Department of Commerce Silver Medal

• Department of Commerce Bronze Medal

• President's "E" Award

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Main article: Awards and decorations of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration

• NOAA Meritorious Service Medal

• NOAA Administrator’s Award

• NOAA Corps Commendation Medal

• NOAA Corps Achievement Medal

• NOAA Corps Director's Ribbon

• NOAA Units Citation Award

Non-government decorations^[7]

• NOAA Association of Commissioned Officers (ACO) Award Medal

Junior Officer of the Year = NOAA ACO Award Medal (without attachments)

Science Award = NOAA ACO Award Medal (with bronze "S" device)

Engineering Award = NOAA ACO Award Medal (with bronze "E" device)

• Society of American Military Engineers Colbert Medal

• Society of American Military Engineers Karo Award

Campaign and service awards

• NOAA Outstanding Volunteer Service Award Medal

• NOAA Sea Service Deployment Ribbon

• NOAA Corps Atlantic Sea Service Ribbon

• NOAA Corps Pacific Sea Service Ribbon

• NOAA Corps Mobile Duty Service Ribbon

• NOAA Corps International Service Ribbon

• NOAA Rifle Ribbon

• NOAA Pistol Ribbon

Incentive awards (without medal or ribbon)

• NOAA Technology Transfer Award^[8]

• NOAA Distinguished Career Award

Department of Defense

DOD-level awards for civilian service

• Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award

• Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award

• Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award

• Vietnam Civilian Service Medal

• Southwest Asia Civilian Service Medal

• Armed Forces Civilian Service Medal (AFCSM)^[9]

• Global War on Terrorism Civilian Service Medal (GWOTCSM)^[10]

• Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service^[11]

DOD-level awards for civilian service or private citizens

• Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor

• Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom

DOD-level awards for private citizens

• Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service

• Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service

• Secretary of Defense Award for Exceptional Public Service

• Eugene G. Fubini Award

Joint Chiefs of Staff

[1]

• CJCS Award for Distinguished Public Service (DPS)

• CJCS Award for Outstanding Public Service (OPS)

• CJCS Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Award (JDSCA)

• CJCS Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award (JMCSA)

• Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award (JCSCA), its military equivalent is the Joint Service Commendation Medal

• Joint Civilian Service Achievement Award (JCSAA), its military equivalent is the Joint Service Achievement Medal

DOD Office of the Inspector General (OIG)

• DOD Inspector General Distinguished Service Award

• DOD Inspector General Superior Civilian Service Award

• DOD Inspector General Meritorious Civilian Service Award

Department of the Army

Department of the Army awards for civilian service

^[12]

• Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service

• Meritorious Civilian Service Award

• Superior Civilian Service Award

• Commander's Award for Civilian Service

• Secretary of the Army Award for Valor

• Award for Science and Engineering

• Achievement Medal for Civilian Service

• Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service

• Certificate of Achievement

Department of the Army awards for public service

• Decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service

• Secretary of the Army Public Service Award

• Outstanding Civilian Service Award

• Commander's Award for Public Service

• Certificate of Achievement

Department of the Air Force

• Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service

• Civilian Award for Valor

• Outstanding Civilian Career Service Award

• Meritorious Civilian Service Award

• Command Civilian Award for Valor

• Civilian Air Medal

• Civilian Aerial Achievement Award

• Exemplary Civilian Service Award

• Civilian Achievement Award

• Exceptional Public Service Award

• Distinguished Public Service Award

• Commander's Award for Public Service

Department of the Navy

• Civilian Valor Medal - Gold

• Civilian Valor Medal - Silver

• Distinguished Civilian Service Award

• Superior Civilian Service Award

• Meritorious Civilian Service Award

• Captain Robert Dexter Conrad Award for Scientific Achievement

• Distinguished Achievement in Science Award

• Distinguished Public Service Award

• Superior Public Service Award

• Meritorious Public Service Award

• Navy Global War on Terrorism Civilian Service Medal

• Naval Criminal Investigative Service Expeditionary Medal

Defense Commissary Agency

• DeCA Distinguished Civilian Service Award

• DeCA Meritorious Civilian Service Award

• DeCA Superior Civilian Service Award

• DeCA Civilian Career Service Award

Defense Contract Audit Agency

• Distinguished Civilian Service Medal

• Meritorious Civilian Service Medal

Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA)

• Distinguished Civilian Service Award

• Exceptional Civilian Service Award

• Meritorious Civilian Service Award

• Civilian Career Service Award

Defense Information Systems Agency

• DISA Exceptional Civilian Service Medal

• DISA Meritorious Civilian Service Medal

Defense Intelligence Agency

• DIA Meritorious Civilian Service Medal

• DIA Exceptional Civilian Service Medal

• DIA Civilian Achievement Medal

• DIA Award for Excellence Medal

• DIA Director's Award

• DIA Leadership Award

• DIA Civilian Combat Support Medal

• DIA Civilian Expeditionary Medal

Defense Logistics Agency

• Distinguished Career Service Award

• Meritorious Civilian Service Award

• Superior Civilian Service Award

Defense Supply Agency

• DSA Exceptional Civilian Service Award

Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)

• DTRA Distinguished Service Award

• DTRA Meritorious Service Award

• DTRA Exceptional Service Award

Formerly the Defense Special Weapons Agency (DSWA) Awards

• DSWA Director's Lifetime Achievement Award

• DSWA Exceptional Civilian Service Award

• DSWA Meritorious Civilian Service Award

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

• NGA Distinguished Service Medal

• NGA Exceptional Service Medal

• NGA Meritorious Service Medal

Formerly the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) Awards

• NIMA Distinguished Civilian Service Medal

• NIMA Meritorious Civilian Service Medal

• NIMA Superior Civilian Service Medal

National Reconnaissance Office

• NRO Distinguished Service Medal (Gold Medal)

• NRO Superior Service Medal (Silver Medal)

• NRO Meritorious Service Medal (Bronze Medal)

• NRO Director's Circle Award

National Security Agency

• NSA Exceptional Civilian Service Medal

Department of Education

• Presidential Scholar Medallion - Awarded to the nations top 141 graduating High School Seniors. 20 of these are Presidential Scholars in the Arts. This award is commissioned under an executive order from the President. Recipients are chosen under the Department of Education, and visit the White House to meet the President.

Department of Energy

In June 2007, Secretary Samuel Bodman introduced a new awards program^[13] for non-monetary recognition of its employees and contractors.

Secretary's Honor Awards

Honor awards that are presented annually and replaces the previous Secretary's Gold, Silver and Bronze awards.

1. The James R. Schlesinger Award – recipient receives a polished brass and mahogany clock along with a shadow box framed calligraphy certificate signed by the Secretary of Energy and a commemorative medal honoring former Secretary of Energy James R. Schlesinger.
2. Secretary of Energy's Excellence Award – recipient receives a crystal medallion award and leather-encased certificate
3. Secretary of Energy's Achievement Award – recipient receives a crystal statue award and leather-encased certificate

Secretary's Appreciation Award

Appreciation awards that are presented at any time

Departure Awards

Departure awards may be presented upon retirement or departure from the agency

1. Secretary of Energy's Exceptional Service Award
2. Secretary of Energy's Distinguished Service Award
3. Secretary of Energy's Meritorious Service Award

• DOE Award for Valor

• DOE Secretary's Award

• DOE Exceptional Service Medal

• DOE Meritorious Service Award

Department of Health and Human Services

• HHS Secretary's Recognition Award
• HHS Secretary's Special Citation
• HHS Secretary’s Certificate of Appreciation
• HHS Secretary's Letter of Appreciation
• HHS Distinguished Public Service Award
• HHS Medallion Seal Award
• HHS Secretary's Award for Distinguished Service

National Institutes of Health

• NIH Director's Award - Scientific/Medical
• NIH Director's Award - Technical/Clerical/Support
• NIH Director's Award - Administrative
• NIH Director's Award - Mentoring

United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps

Main article: Awards and decorations of the Public Health Service

• Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal

• Public Health Service Meritorious Service Medal

• Surgeon General's Medal

• Public Health Service Outstanding Service Medal

• Public Health Service Commendation Medal

• Public Health Service Achievement Medal

• Public Health Service Citation Medal

• Public Health Service Outstanding Unit Citation (ribbon only)

• Public Health Service Unit Commendation (ribbon only)

• Public Health Service Isolated Hardship Service Award (ribbon only)

• Public Health Service Hazardous Duty Service Award (ribbon only)

• Public Health Service Foreign Duty Service Award (ribbon only)

• Public Health Service Special Assignment Service Award (ribbon only)

• Public Health Service Crisis Response Service Award (ribbon only)

• Respose Ribbon

• Global Response Ribbon

• Public Health Service National Emergency Preparedness Award (ribbon only)

• Public Health Service Bicentennial Unit Commendation Award (ribbon only)

• Public Health Service Smallpox Campaign Award (ribbon only)

• Public Health Service Regular Corps Ribbon (ribbon only)

• Commissioned Corps Training Ribbon

Other Public Health Service Awards

• Association of Military Surgeons of the United States

• Commissioned Officers Association

• Reserve Officers Association

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

• CDC/ATSDR William Watson Medal of Excellence (no ribbon)

Department of Homeland Security

• Department of Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
• Secretary's Gold Medal
• Secretary's Silver Medal
• Secretary's Award for Valor
• Secretary's Award for Exemplary Service
• Secretary's Award for Excellence
• Secretary's Award for TEAM DHS Excellence
• Secretary's Award for Diversity Management
• Secretary's Award for Volunteer Service

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

• Border Patrol Newton Azrak Award

• Commissioners Distinguished Career Service Award

• Commissioners Exceptional Service Medal

• Commissioners Meritorious Service Award

• Commissioners Special Commendation Award

• Border Patrol Chief's Commendation

• Border Patrol Excellence in Group Achievement

• Border Patrol Purple Cross

• Border Patrol Academy Honor Graduate Medal

• Border Patrol Long Service Medal

• Border Patrol 75th Anniversary Medal

Federal Emergency Management Agency

• FEMA Distinguished Service Medal
• Secretary's Award For Distinguished Public Safety Service (may be awarded by the Attorney General or FEMA Director)

U.S. Coast Guard

• Gold Lifesaving Medal

• Silver Lifesaving Medal

• Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award

• Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award

• Coast Guard Public Service Commendation

• Coast Guard Certificate of Merit

• Coast Guard Certificate of Appreciation

• Coast Guard Commander's Award for Civilian Service

U.S. Secret Service

• Director's Award of Valor
• Director's Life Saving Award
• Director's Distinguished Service Award

Department of the Interior

• Valor Award
• Distinguished Service Award
• Superior Service Award
• Exemplary Act Award
• Citizen's Award for Bravery
• Meritorious Service
• Conservation Service Award
• Unit Award for Excellence of Service
• Outstanding Service Award
• Citizen's Award for Exceptional Service

Department of Justice

• Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor (awarded by the President to public safety officers cited by the Attorney General)

• Secretary's Award For Distinguished Public Safety Service (may be awarded by the Attorney General or FEMA Director)

• Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service

• Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism

• Mary C. Lawton Lifetime Service Award

• William French Smith Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cooperative Law Enforcement

• Edward H. Levi Award for Outstanding Professionalism and Exemplary Integrity

• Attorney General’s Award for Meritorious Public Service

• Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service

• Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement

• Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Management

• Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Information Technology

• Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security

• Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Legal Support

• Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Administrative Support

• John Marshall Awards

• Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Service in Freedom of Information Act Administration

• Attorney General’s Award for Fraud Prevention

• Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Community Partnerships for Public Safety

• Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Service by a Federal Wage System Employee

• Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee

• Young American Award; transferred to the Boy Scouts of America in 1971

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives

• ATF Distinguished Service Medal

• ATF Gold Star Medal

• ATF Medal of Valor

Drug Enforcement Administration

• DEA Purple Heart Award

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Main article: FBI Honorary Medals

• FBI Star

• FBI Medal for Meritorious Achievement

• FBI Shield of Bravery

• FBI Medal of Valor

• FBI Memorial Star

Federal Bureau of Prisons

• Federal Bureau of Prisons Distinguished Service Medal (Gold Medal)

• Federal Bureau of Prisons Meritorious Service Medal (Silver Medal)

• Federal Bureau of Prisons Commendable Service Medal (Bronze Medal)

United States Foreign Affairs Agencies

Department of State

Main article: Awards of the United States Department of State

Honor Awards

• Secretary's Distinguished Service Award

• Secretary’s Award

• Award for Heroism

• Award for Valor

• Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service

• Distinguished Honor Award

• Superior Honor Award

• Meritorious Honor Award

• Franklin Award

Service Awards

• Expeditionary Service Award

• Secretary's Career Achievement Award

• John Jacob Rogers Award

United States Agency for International Development

• Distinguished Honor Award

• Superior Honor Award

• Meritorious Honor Award

United States Information Agency/Broadcasting Board of Governors

• Distinguished Honor Award

• Superior Honor Award

• Meritorious Honor Award

Arms Control and Disarmament Agency

• Distinguished Honor Award

• Superior Honor Award

• Meritorious Honor Award

Foreign Agricultural Service

• Distinguished Honor Award

• Superior Honor Award

• Meritorious Honor Award

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

• Distinguished Honor Award

• Superior Honor Award

• Meritorious Honor Award

United States Commercial Service

• Distinguished Honor Award

• Superior Honor Award

• Meritorious Honor Award

Department of Transportation

• Department of Transportation Distinguished Service Medal

• Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Achievement Medal

• Department of Transportation Meritorious Achievement Medal

• Department of Transportation Superior Achievement Medal

• Department of Transportation Medal for Valor

• Guardian Medal

• Transportation 9-11 Medal

• Transportation 9-11 Ribbon

• Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award

• Commercial Astronaut Wings

• Pilot Proficiency Award Program Wings

Federal Aviation Administration

• FAA Valor Medal

Maritime Administration

United States Merchant Marine

• Distinguished Service Medal

• Meritorious Service Medal

• Outstanding Achievement Medal

• Gallant Ship Citation

• Mariner's Medal

• Combat Bar

• Defense Medal

• Atlantic War Zone Medal

• Mediterranean-Middle East War Zone

• Pacific War Zone Medal

• Korean Service Medal

• Vietnam Service Medal

• WW2 Victory Medal

• Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal

Department of the Treasury

• Albert Gallatin Award
• Secretary of the Treasury's Distinguished Service Award

Internal Revenue Service

• IRS Commissioner's Award

Office of Thrift Supervision

• OTS Director's Award for Excellence

Environmental Protection Agency

• EPA Gold Medal for Exceptional Service (individual and group)

• EPA Silver Medal for Superior Service (individual and group)

• EPA Bronze Medal for Commendable Service (individual and group)

• EPA Distinguished Career Service Award

• Paul G. Keough Award for Administrative Excellence

• Glenda A. Farmer Award for Exemplary Technical Support

• Trudy A. Speciner Non-Supervisory Award for Advancing Environmental Protection

• President's Environmental Youth Award^[4]

NASA

See also: NASA

NASA’s most prestigious honor awards are approved by the NASA administrator and presented to carefully selected individuals or groups of individuals, either government and non-government, who have distinguished themselves by making outstanding contributions to the agency’s mission.^[14]

Early NASA references to award criteria grouped many awards into equal positions in the order of precedence. Beginning in 1965, references to the order of precedence were dropped from regulations regarding specific awards. The current order of precedence for NASA medals is:^[15]

1. Congressional Space Medal of Honor (astronauts only)

2. Distinguished Service Medal

   Distinguished Public Service Medal

3. Outstanding Leadership Medal

4. Outstanding Service Medal (obsolete)

   Exceptional Achievement Medal

   Exceptional Service Medal

5. Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal

   Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal

   Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal

   Exceptional Administrative Achievement Medal

   Equal Employment Opportunity Medal

6. Exceptional Bravery Medal

7. Exceptional Public Service Medal

8. Space Flight Medal (astronauts only)

Office of Personnel Management

• OPM Meritorious Service Medal

Selective Service System

• Selective Service System Distinguished Service Medal

• Selective Service System Exceptional Service Medal

• Selective Service System Meritorious Service Medal

• Selective Service System WW II Service Medal

President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion

• Y2K Service Medal

References

1. ^ http://www.paemst.org/ PAEMST
2. ^ http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/services/awards_presidential.html Presidential Awards for Leadership in Federal Energy Management
3. ^ http://www.preserveamerica.gov/presidentialaward.html Preserve America Presidential Awards
4. ^ ^{a b} http://www.epa.gov/peya/ President's Environmental Youth Awards
5. ^ http://www.fas.org/irp/dni/icd/icd-655.pdf
6. ^ CIA web page, Medals of the CIA
7. ^ http://beta.noaacorps.noaa.gov/cpc/procedures/corps_directives/chapter_12/ncd_ch12part7.pdf
8. ^ http://www.corporateservices.noaa.gov/~ames/NAOs/Chap_202/naos202_451A.html#APPEND_E
9. ^ "US Army Civilian Personnel Online". 02 December 2008. http://cpol.army.mil/library/mer/awards/afcsm.html. Retrieved 11 December 2010. 
10. ^ "US Army Civilian Personnel Online". 01 April 2009. http://cpol.army.mil/library/mer/awards/gwot-medal.html. Retrieved 11 December 2010. 
11. ^ "US Army Civilian Personnel Online". 02 December 2008. http://cpol.army.mil/library/mer/awards/cahs.html. Retrieved 11 December 2010. 
12. ^ MER: Awards Index Department of the Army Honorary Awards for DA Employees
13. ^ http://humancapital.doe.gov/pers/SecretaryBodmanMemo.pdf DOE Secretary Awards Program
14. ^ McCann, Mike (November 2008). "Agency Honor Awards". http://nasapeople.nasa.gov/awards/nasamedals.htm. Retrieved July 14, 2009. 
15. ^ Bender, James and Strandberg, John E. The Call Of Duty (expanded edition) January 1, 2005, p. 487.