Distinguished Intelligence Medal
Encyclopedia
The Distinguished Intelligence Medal is awarded by the Central Intelligence Agency for performance of outstanding services or for achievement of a distinctly exceptional nature in a duty or responsibility.https://www.cia.gov/library/publications//facttell/cia_medals.html
Notable Recipients
Robert G. Brewster- Dr. William Anderson
- James Jesus AngletonJames Jesus AngletonJames Jesus Angleton was chief of the Central Intelligence Agency's counterintelligence staff from 1954 to 1975...
- Milt Bearden
- Gary BerntsenGary BerntsenGary Berntsen is a decorated former Central Intelligence Agency career officer who served in the Directorate of Operations between October 1982 and June 2005...
- Cofer BlackCofer BlackJoseph Cofer Black is an American counter-terrorism expert and consultant. He had a 28-year career in the Directorate of Operations at the Central Intelligence Agency, culminating in his appointment as Director of the CIA's Counterterrorist Center in June 1999...
- David W. Carey
- John W. CoffeyJohn W. CoffeyJohn W. Coffey is an American author and art historian. He was born on March 12, 1954 and attended Needham B. Broughton High School. He received his undergraduate degrees in history and art history from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and received his masters in art history from...
- William ColbyWilliam ColbyWilliam Egan Colby spent a career in intelligence for the United States, culminating in holding the post of Director of Central Intelligence from September 1973, to January 1976....
- James Critchfield
- Henry Crumpton
- James B. DonovanJames B. DonovanJames Britt Donovan was an American lawyer and Commander in the United States Navy Reserve. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he helped draft the legislation setting up the Central Intelligence Agency. He earned public attention as a defense lawyer for a Russian spy leader...
- Carl DuckettCarl E. DuckettCarl Ernest Duckett was the founding father and visionary leader of the Central Intelligence Agency's science and technology operations...
(twice received) - Fritz ErmarthFritz ErmarthFritz W. Ermarth has been the Director of National Security Programs at the Nixon Center since 2002. He is also a part-time senior analyst for the Strategies Group at Science Applications International Corporation....
- Harry B. Fisher
- Robert GatesRobert GatesDr. Robert Michael Gates is a retired civil servant and university president who served as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011. Prior to this, Gates served for 26 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council, and under President George H. W....
- Burton Gerber
- Richard HelmsRichard HelmsRichard McGarrah Helms was the Director of Central Intelligence from 1966 to 1973. He was the only director to have been convicted of lying to the United States Congress over Central Intelligence Agency undercover activities. In 1977, he was sentenced to the maximum fine and received a suspended...
- Dick HolmDick HolmAlso known as Richard Holm or Richard L. Holm, Dick Holm is a famed American CIA Operations Officer who served under 13 CIA directors and was winner of the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the CIA’s highest award....
- Richard Kerr
- George KisevalterGeorge KisevalterGeorge Kisevalter was a CIA operations officer who handled both Major Pyotr Popov, the first Soviet GRU officer run by the CIA, and Colonel Oleg Penkovsky.- Early life :...
- Ross Newland
- Erik J. Newton
- Paul Redmond
- Theodore ShackleyTheodore ShackleyTheodore G. "Ted" Shackley, Jr. was an American CIA officer involved in many important and controversial CIA operations during the 1960s and 1970s. He is one of the most decorated CIA officers...
- Clarence Leonard Johnson
- Maj. Gen. Michael E. Ennis, USMCUnited 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...
- Adm. William O. Studeman, USNUnited 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...
- Arthur C. LundahlArthur C. LundahlArthur Charles Lundahl was the key organizer of the US post-World War II imagery intelligence an aerial-photography expert whose detection of missile installations in Cuba in 1962 led to the Cuban missile crisis....
- Lawrence R. Houston
- Harritte Thompson
CIA medals are often referred to as "jock strap medals" since they are often awarded secretly (due to the classification level of the respective operation) and cannot be displayed, or on occasion, acknowledged publicly.
See also
- Awards and decorations of the United States governmentAwards and decorations of the United States governmentAwards 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...