Defense Superior Service Medal
Encyclopedia
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 . It is somewhat analogous to the Legion of Merit, albeit awarded for service in a "joint" duty capacity.
Awards and decorations of the United States military
Awards and decorations of the United States Military are military decorations which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces...
of the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
, awarded to members of the United States armed forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."
The decoration is most often presented to senior officers
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in the flag
Flag Officer
A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark where the officer exercises command. The term usually refers to the senior officers in an English-speaking nation's navy, specifically those who hold any of the admiral ranks; in...
and general officer grades
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
. The medal is presented in the name of the Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
and was established by President Gerald R. Ford on February 6, 1976 in . It is somewhat analogous to the Legion of Merit, albeit awarded for service in a "joint" duty capacity.
Notable recipients
- Vice Admiral David ArchitzelDavid ArchitzelDavid Architzel is a Vice Admiral in the United States Navy. He grew up in Merrick, New York and has one brother, Ralph, and two sisters, Reba and Anne Fleming. Architzel graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1973 with a degree in mathematics. He became the Commanding officer of the USS...
, NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... - ColonelColonel (United States)In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
Curtis BrownCurtis BrownCurtis Lee "Curt" Brown, Jr. is an engineer, former NASA astronaut and retired United States Air Force Colonel.Colonel Brown graduated from East Bladen High School in Elizabethtown, North Carolina in 1974 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the United States...
, Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
astronautAstronautAn astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft.... - Vice Admiral Nancy Elizabeth BrownNancy Elizabeth BrownVice Admiral Nancy E. Brown most recently served as the Director, Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems , The Joint Staff. She is the principal advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on all C4 systems matters within the Department of Defense. Her service spans 32...
, Navy - GeneralGeneral (United States)In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
Michael P.C. CarnsMichael P.C. CarnsMichael Patrick Chamberlain Carns was the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from 1991 to 1994.-Early life:Carns was born in Junction City, Kansas. After graduating from St. John's College High School, Washington, D.C...
, Air Force - Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant Colonel (United States)In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
Michael R. CliffordMichael R. CliffordMichael Richard Uram "Rich" Clifford , is a former U.S. Army officer and NASA astronaut. Michael Clifford was born in San Bernardino, California, but considers Ogden, Utah to be his hometown. Clifford is married and has two sons...
, ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
astronautAstronautAn astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft.... - Brigadier GeneralBrigadier general (United States)A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
Jesse CrossJesse CrossBrigadier General Jesse R. Cross, USA was the 50th Quartermaster General of the United States Army and the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Quartermaster School at Fort Lee, Virginia.- Military career :...
, Army - Doctor Stephen E. CrossStephen E. CrossStephen E. Cross is the current Executive Vice President for Research at the Georgia Institute of Technology, a position to which he was appointed in 2010. Previously, he served as the director of the Georgia Tech Research Institute from 2003 until 2010. He was also previously the director and...
- Brigadier General Susan Y. DesjardinsSusan Y. DesjardinsMajor General Susan Y. Desjardins is currently the director of strategic plans for Air Mobility Command. She has been selected for reassignment as Director, Plans and Policy , Headquarters U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb....
, Air Force - Colonel Patrick G. ForresterPatrick G. ForresterPatrick Graham Forrester is a retired United States Army officer and a NASA astronaut. At the time of his retirement from the U.S. Army, Forrester had achieved the rank of colonel...
, Army, NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
astronautAstronautAn astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft.... - Major General Walter E. GaskinWalter E. GaskinLieutenant General Walter E. Gaskin assumed his duties as the Deputy Chairman, NATO Military Committee, Brussels, Belgium on March 22, 2010.-Marine Corps career:...
, Marine CorpsUnited States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States... - Sergeant Major of the ArmySergeant Major of the ArmyThe Sergeant Major of the Army is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Army. The holder of this rank is the most senior enlisted member of the Army, unless an Army NCO is serving as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman, when in that case that NCO will be the most senior...
Julius W. GatesJulius W. GatesJulius William Gates was the eighth Sergeant Major of the Army. In July 1987, he was sworn in and he served until his term ended four years later in June 1991. He was born in North Carolina on June 14, 1941....
, Army - Lieutenant General John F. GoodmanJohn F. GoodmanLieutenant General John Floyd Goodman is a retired United States Marine Corps general. He is currently Director of the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance , United States Pacific Command having assumed the directorship on October 17, 2008.-Early life:John...
, Marine CorpsUnited States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States... - Lieutenant General Frank GorencFrank GorencLieutenant General Frank "Gork" Gorenc is Commander, Third Air Force, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. As the U.S. Air Forces in Europe component numbered air force for U.S...
, Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of... - Major GeneralMajor general (United States)In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
Wendell L. GriffinWendell L. GriffinMajor General Wendell Lee Griffin, USAF, is a retired American Air Force officer who served as the Chief of Safety of the United States Air Force from 2007 to 2009.Maj. Gen...
, Air Force - Sergeant Major of the ArmySergeant Major of the ArmyThe Sergeant Major of the Army is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Army. The holder of this rank is the most senior enlisted member of the Army, unless an Army NCO is serving as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman, when in that case that NCO will be the most senior...
Robert E. HallRobert E. HallRobert E. Hall was sworn in as the eleventh Sergeant Major of the Army on October 21, 1997 and served until June 23, 2000.-Biography:Hall was born in Gaffney, South Carolina, on May 31, 1947. He entered the Army in February 1968 and attended Basic Training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and...
, Army - Brigadier General Rebecca S. HalsteadRebecca S. HalsteadRebecca Stevens "Becky" Halstead is a retired U.S. Army Brigadier General. She was the first female graduate of West Point to become a general officer. Her final assignment was Chief of Ordnance and commander of the U.S...
, Army - Vice Admiral Harry Harris, Navy
- General Donald J. HoffmanDonald J. HoffmanGeneral Donald Joseph Hoffman, USAF is the 7th and current Commander, Air Force Materiel Command. He previously served as Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition from August 2005 to November 20, 2008...
, Air Force - Admiral Jonathan HoweJonathan HoweJonathan Trumbull Howe is a retired four-star United States Navy Admiral, and was the Special Representative for Somalia to United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali from March 9, 1993, succeeding Ismat Kittani from Iraq, until his resignation in February 1994. Howe was also the...
, Navy - General Charles H. Jacoby, Jr.Charles H. Jacoby, Jr.General Charles H. Jacoby, Jr., USA is an American Army officer who is currently serving as the fifth Commander, United States Northern Command and the 22nd Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command . Jacoby is the first Army officer to assume command of Northern Command. He previously...
, United States Army - Major General Rodney P. KellyRodney P. KellyRodney P. Kelly is a retired Major General in the United States Air Force who served as assistant deputy chief of staff for plans and programs for the United States Air Force in Washington, D.C...
, Air Force - Lieutenant General Frank KlotzFrank KlotzFrank G. Klotz, is a former United States Air Force lieutenant general who last served as the commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana...
, Air Force - Colonel W. Patrick LangW. Patrick LangWalter Patrick "Pat" Lang, Jr. is a commentator on the Middle East, a retired US Army officer and private intelligence analyst, and an author. After leaving uniformed military service as a colonel, he held high-level posts in military intelligence as a civilian...
- Admiral Michael MullenMichael MullenMichael Glenn "Mike" Mullen is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral, who served as the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2011. Mullen previously served as the Navy's 28th Chief of Naval Operations from July 22, 2005 to September 29, 2007...
, Navy, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffChairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffThe Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, and is the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and the Secretary of Defense... - General Peter PacePeter PacePeter Pace is a retired United States Marine Corps general who served as the 16th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the first Marine appointed to the United States' highest-ranking military office. Appointed by President George W. Bush, Pace succeeded U.S. Air Force General Richard Myers on...
, Marine Corps, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffChairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffThe Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, and is the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and the Secretary of Defense... - General David PetraeusDavid PetraeusDavid Howell Petraeus is the current Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, sworn in on September 6, 2011. Prior to his assuming the directorship of the CIA, Petraeus was a four-star general serving over 37 years in the United States Army. His last assignments in the Army were as commander...
, Army - General and Secretary of StateUnited States Secretary of StateThe United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Colin PowellColin PowellColin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
, Army - Vice Admiral Ann E. RondeauAnn E. RondeauVice Admiral Ann E. Rondeau is currently President of the National Defense University. She assumed the position in 2009. She was former Deputy Commander of the United States Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois from December 2006 to 2009....
, Navy - Vice Admiral Joe Sestak, Navy, Member, U.S. House of Representatives
- Brigadier General Donald B. SmithDonald B. Smith-References:http://www.putnamcountyny.com/boe/vote/results.htmhttp://www.putnamcountyny.com/boe/hist/index.htm-External links:****...
, Army - Lieutenant General David P. ValcourtDavid P. ValcourtDavid P. Valcourt is a retired Lieutenant General of the United States Army. He served as the Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command from February 25, 2008 to May 3, 2010, after serving as Commanding General, Eight United States Army...
, Army - Colonel James Voss, Army, NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
astronautAstronautAn astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft.... - Lieutenant General Frances C. WilsonFrances C. WilsonFrances C. Wilson is a retired lieutenant general of the United States Marine Corps, and is the immediate past president of the National Defense University.-Personal life and education:...
, Marine CorpsUnited States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States... - Vice Admiral James A. Winnefeld, Jr.James A. Winnefeld, Jr.James Alexander "Sandy" Winnefeld, Jr. is a United States Navy four-star admiral who currently serves as the ninth Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He previously served as the fourth Commander, U.S. Northern Command and the 21st Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command from...
, NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... - Vice Admiral James P. WisecupJames P. WisecupJames P. "Phil" Wisecup is a Vice Admiral and Naval Inspector General of the United States Navy.-Family and education:The son of James and Bettye Ruth Bach Wisecup, Phil Wisecup is a 1977 graduate of the United States Naval Academy...
, U.S. Navy - Major General Walter H. Yates, Jr.Walter H. Yates, Jr.Major General Walter H. Yates, Jr. is a retired United States Army officer who served as Deputy Commanding General Fifth United States Army. He is a native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi and graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi. He also holds a Master of Science degree in Foreign...
, Army - General Anthony ZinniAnthony ZinniAnthony Charles Zinni is a retired four-star General in the United States Marine Corps and a former Commander in Chief of U.S. Central Command...
, Marine Corps