- Defense Superior Service Medal
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Defense Superior Service Medal 
Awarded by United States Department of Defense Type Medal Awarded for "Superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility" Status Currently awarded Precedence Next (higher) Silver Star Next (lower) Legion of Merit 
Ribbon (above), obverse (left), reverse (right)The Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."
The decoration is most often presented to senior officers in the flag and general officer grades. The medal is presented in the name of the Secretary of Defense and was established by President Gerald R. Ford on February 6, 1976 in Executive Order 11904. It is somewhat analogous to the Legion of Merit, albeit awarded for service in a "joint" duty capacity.
Notable recipients
- Vice Admiral David Architzel, Navy
- Colonel Curtis Brown, Air Force, NASA astronaut
- Vice Admiral Nancy Elizabeth Brown, Navy
- General Michael P.C. Carns, Air Force
- Lieutenant Colonel Michael R. Clifford, Army, NASA astronaut
- Brigadier General Jesse Cross, Army
- Doctor Stephen E. Cross
- Brigadier General Susan Y. Desjardins, Air Force
- Colonel Patrick G. Forrester, Army, NASA astronaut
- Major General Walter E. Gaskin, Marine Corps
- Sergeant Major of the Army Julius W. Gates, Army
- Lieutenant General John F. Goodman, Marine Corps
- Lieutenant General Frank Gorenc, Air Force
- Major General Wendell L. Griffin, Air Force
- Sergeant Major of the Army Robert E. Hall, Army
- Brigadier General Rebecca S. Halstead, Army
- Vice Admiral Harry Harris, Navy
- General Donald J. Hoffman, Air Force
- Admiral Jonathan Howe, Navy
- General Charles H. Jacoby, Jr., United States Army
- Major General Rodney P. Kelly, Air Force
- Lieutenant General Frank Klotz, Air Force
- Colonel W. Patrick Lang
- Admiral Michael Mullen, Navy, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- General Peter Pace, Marine Corps, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- General David Petraeus, Army
- General and Secretary of State Colin Powell, Army
- Vice Admiral Ann E. Rondeau, Navy
- Vice Admiral Joe Sestak, Navy, Member, U.S. House of Representatives
- Brigadier General Donald B. Smith, Army
- Lieutenant General David P. Valcourt, Army
- Colonel James Voss, Army, NASA astronaut
- Lieutenant General Frances C. Wilson, Marine Corps
- Vice Admiral James A. Winnefeld, Jr., Navy
- Vice Admiral James P. Wisecup, U.S. Navy
- Major General Walter H. Yates, Jr., Army
- General Anthony Zinni, Marine Corps
External links
Inter-service awards and decorations of the United States militaryFederal military decorations DoD decorations 
Defense Distinguished Service · 
Defense Superior Service · 
Defense Meritorious Service · 
Joint Service Commendation · 
Joint Service Achievement · 
Joint Meritorious UnitFederal service medals 
National Defense Service Medal · 
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal · 
Humanitarian Service Medal · 
Outstanding Volunteer Service · 
Armed Forces Service Medal · 
Armed Forces Reserve · 
POW · 
Antarctica Service · 
Korean Service · 
Korea Defense Service · 
Vietnam Service · 
Southwest Asia Service · 
Kosovo Campaign · 
Afghanistan Campaign Medal · 
Iraq Campaign Medal · 
GWOT Expeditionary Medal · 
GWOT Service MedalCategories:- Awards and decorations of the United States Department of Defense
- Awards established in 1976
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