Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor

The Office of the Secretary of the Defense Medal for Valor is the highest civilian award for valor presented by the Department of Defense. Created in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, the medal recognizes government employees and private citizens who perform an act of heroism or sacrifice, with voluntary risk to their personal safety in the face of danger.

Eligibility
The act of bravery is eligible for recognition if the act is:
 * Related to a Department of Defense employee or activity
 * The Department of Defense in some way benefits from the act
 * The employee is saved by an individual or the employee saves an individual from danger.

Appearance
The medal of the award is gold in color and 35 mm in diameter. The obverse depicts a five pointed star on top of a laurel wreath. At the top of the medal is inscribed "VALOR". The reverse of the medal has a small laurel wreath under a rectangular plate for engraving the recipient's name. The words “AWARDED TO” are inscribed above and parallel to the name plate. Below the plate are the words “FOR EXHIBITING BRAVERY”. The medal is suspended from a ribbon 35 mm in width in ultramarine blue. On either side of the ribbon are two stripes of old glory red, inside the red are two thin stripes of white.

Recipients

 * Eric M. Jones, for actions at the Pentagon on 11 September 2001
 * Steve A. DeChiaro, for actions at the Pentagon on 11 September 2001
 * Dr Andrew Rathmell, for actions in Baquba, Iraq 21 January 2004
 * Alan Johnston, for actions al-Kasik, Iraq 7 August 2004
 * James M. Feltis III, for action on 11 January 2005 (armed suspect)
 * John Kinnard, for actions on 11 January 2005 (armed suspect)
 * David Queen, for actions on 11 January 2005 (armed suspect)
 * William Caouette, for actions on 11 January 2005 (armed suspect)
 * Jeffery Amos, for the actions during the 2010 Pentagon shooting 4 March 2010
 * Marvin Carraway, Jr., for the actions during the 2010 Pentagon shooting 4 March 2010
 * Dexter Jones, for the actions during the 2010 Pentagon shooting 4 March 2010
 * Colin Richards, for the actions during the 2010 Pentagon shooting 4 March 2010