- Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
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This article is about the Homeland Security-awarded Distinguished Service Medal. For other U.S. versions, see Distinguished Service Medal (United States).
Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal 
Awarded by
United States Department of Homeland SecurityType Medal Eligibility Members of the United States armed forces Awarded for Exceptionally meritorious service Status Currently awarded Statistics Established 1 March 2002 First awarded 2006 Total awarded 4 Distinct
recipientsAdmiral Thad Allen (2 awards)
Admiral Thomas H. Collins
Vice Admiral Vivien Crea
Admiral Arthur E. BrooksPrecedence Next (higher) Coast Guard - Navy Cross Army - Distinguished Service Cross
Navy - Navy Cross
Air Force - Air Force CrossEquivalent Distinguished Service Medal: Defense, Army, Navy, Air Force Next (lower) Coast Guard - Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal 
Ribbon bar of the medalThe Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States by the United States Department of Homeland Security. The current version of the medal was established on March 1, 2002.[1]
Contents
History
The decoration was originally established as the Transportation Distinguished Service Medal by Executive Order 12824, signed by President George H.W. Bush on December 7, 1992. On February 28, 2003, President George W. Bush signed Executive Order 13286, which, among other things, replaced the Transportation version of the award with the Homeland Security version retroactively to March 1, 2002. On April 5, 2011, President Barack Obama amended Executive Order 12824, as amended, modifying the award eligibility from "a member of the Coast Guard" to "any member of the Armed Forces of the United States".[2]
Recipients
The first Department of Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal was awarded to then-Vice Admiral Thad W. Allen in 2006 for his service in response to Hurricane Katrina. Admiral Allen received the award for a second time in 2010 at the end of his term as Commandant of the Coast Guard.[3][4]
Admiral Thomas H. Collins was presented the award in 2006 at the end of his term as Commandant of the Coast Guard.[5]
Vice Admiral Vivien Crea was presented the award in 2009 at the end of her term as Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard.
Admiral Arthur E. Brooks was presented the award in 2007. Both Admiral Arthur E. Brooks and Admiral Thad W. Allen are the only officers to receive the award while still upon active duty.
Order of precedence
As a distinguished service medal, this decoration is one of the highest awards that can be bestowed upon a member of the armed forces.
The award would be worn after the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross and Air Force Cross and, for members of the Coast Guard, before the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Department-specific DSM decorations. The medal may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States.
See also
- Awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard
- Awards and decorations of the United States government
References
- ^ http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode14/usc_sec_14_00000492----000-notes.html
- ^ http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/04/05/executive-order-amendments-executive-orders-12824-12835-12859-and-13532-
- ^ Washington Post dated May 11, 2006
- ^ Navy Times dated 25 May 2010
- ^ Coast Guard Change of Command Ceremony, dated 25 May 2006. C-SPAN Video Library.
- ^ http://www.flickr.com/photos/uscgpress/3798936670/
Categories:- United States Department of Homeland Security
- Awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard
- Awards established in 2002
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