The Distinguished Honor Award is an award of the United States Department of State. Similar versions of the same award exist for the former U.S. Information Agency, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency

Arms Control and Disarmament Agency

The U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency was established as an independent agency of the United States government by the Arms Control and Disarmament Act , September 26, 1961, a bill drafted by presidential adviser John J. McCloy. Its predecessor was the U.S. Disarmament Administration, part...

, and USAID. It is presented to groups or individuals in recognition of exceptionally outstanding service or achievements of marked national or international significance.

The award consists of a gold medal set and a certificate signed by an assistant secretary, an official of equivalent rank or the Chief of Mission. Due to the demanding nature of the criteria, the award is not routinely issued; only two non-Ambassadorial rank Foreign Service Officers have ever received an individual award.

Criteria

The following criteria are applicable to granting a Distinguished Honor Award:

• Exceptionally outstanding service to the agencies or the U.S. Government resulting in achievements of marked national or international significance;
• Exceptionally outstanding service and/or leadership in the administration of one or more agency programs that results in the highly successful accomplishment of mission, or in a major attainment of objectives or specific accomplishment to meet unique or emergency situations; and
• Outstanding accomplishments over a prolonged period that involve the exercise of authority or judgment in the public interest.

Nominating and Approval Procedures

Nominations for State and USAID employees are submitted on Form JF-66, Nomination for Award, through supervisory channels to the Joint Country Awards Committee for review and recommendation to the Chief of Mission for final action.

Nominations initiated in Washington are submitted to the appropriate area awards committee for final action. For USAID, nominations initiated in Washington are reviewed by the USAID bureau/office with final approval by the appropriate assistant administrator or office head.

Military Use

Upon authorization, members of the U.S. military may wear the medal and ribbon in the appropriate order of precedence as a U.S. non-military personal decoration

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...

.

Notable Recipients

• Richard Armitage (politician)
  Richard Armitage (politician)
  Richard Lee Armitage, GCMG AC CNZM was the 13th United States Deputy Secretary of State, the second-in-command at the State Department, serving from 2001 to 2005.-Early life and military career:...
  
  , former Deputy Secretary of State, 2001-2005
• Ambassador L. Paul Bremer
  L. Paul Bremer
  Lewis Paul "Jerry" Bremer III is an American diplomat. He is most notable for being the U.S. Administrator to Iraq charged with overseeing the country's occupation after the 2003 invasion. In his role as head of the Coalition Provisional Authority, he reported primarily to the U.S. Secretary of...
  
  , former head of the Coalition Provisional Authority
  Coalition Provisional Authority
  The Coalition Provisional Authority was established as a transitional government following the invasion of Iraq by the United States and its allies, members of the Multi-National Force – Iraq which was formed to oust the government of Saddam Hussein in 2003...
  
   in Iraq
  Iraq
  Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
  
  , 2003–2004
• Ambassador Eric J. Boswell
  Eric J. Boswell
  Eric J. Boswell is the United States Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security, serving since 2008. He previously served in the same post from 1996 to 1998.-Biography:...
  
  , current Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security
  Bureau of Diplomatic Security
  The Bureau of Diplomatic Security, more commonly known as Diplomatic Security, or DS, is the security and law enforcement arm of the United States Department of State. DS is a world leader in international investigations, threat analysis, cyber security, counterterrorism, security technology, and...
  
  
• Ambassador Lino Gutiérrez
  Lino Gutierrez
  Lino Gutierrez is an American diplomat. He served as Ambassador to Argentina from September 2003 through July 2006. He was succeeded by Earl Anthony Wayne...
  
  , former U.S. Ambassador to Argentina
  Argentina
  Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
  
  , 2003-2006
• Ambassador James F. Collins, former U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation, 1997–2001

See also

• Awards of the United States Department of State
  Awards of the United States Department of State
  The United States Department of State, like other agencies of the U.S. federal government, gives civilian decorations for outstanding service, sacrifice, or heroism...
  
  
• Awards and decorations of the United States government
  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...
  
  
• United States Department of State
• U.S. Foreign Service