Department of Commerce Gold Medal

The Department of Commerce Gold Medal is the highest award presented by the United States Secretary of Commerce. Awarded since 1949, this award recognizes extraordinary achievement supporting critical objectives of the Department of Commerce with significant beneficial effect on the United States or world. The award may be presented to groups, individuals, and Commerce Department organization. Medals are awarded annually during a ceremony held each Fall at the Herbert C. Hoover Building in Washington, D.C.. The medals are awarded to individuals, groups, and organizations. Individuals and members of groups each receive a framed certificate signed by the Secretary, while organizations receive one certificate to represent the entire organization.

Criteria
To warrant the award of the Gold Medal, actions must meet one of the following criteria:
 * Achievement of critical program goals far exceeding expectations, marked by noteworthy creativity, energy, or persistence, contributing significantly to the welfare of the United States.
 * Exceedingly outstanding leadership or management that resulting in dramatic improvements to productivity, program effectiveness, or quality of the Department of Commerce's service to the United States.
 * Scientific or technological breakthroughs resolving longstanding problems or radically advance the state-of-the-art.
 * Highly distinguished authorship or editorship affecting the primary principles of the discipline covered, opening up new fields of inquiry, or redefining major issues of investigation.
 * Heroic action involving risk to life.

Wear on uniform
Medal recipients are presented a certificate and medallion. Recipients of the medal who are members of the NOAA Commissioned Corps, are provided a full sized military style medal, miniature medal, and ribbon bar.

Notable recipients

 * Jonathan W. Bailey
 * Samuel P. De Bow, Jr.
 * Lauren S. McCready
 * John L. Hall
 * Paul A. Ziemer
 * NOAA Center for Tsunami Research