Distinguished Honor Award

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, 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.

Notable Recipients

 * Peter W. Chiarelli, General, U.S. Army
 * David H. Petraeus, General, U.S. Army
 * Richard Armitage (politician), former Deputy Secretary of State, 2001-2005
 * Ambassador L. Paul Bremer, former head of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, 2003–2004
 * Ambassador Eric J. Boswell, current Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security
 * Ambassador Lino Gutiérrez, former U.S. Ambassador to Argentina, 2003-2006
 * Ambassador James F. Collins, former U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation, 1997–2001
 * Senior Advisor Alec Ross
 * Jacques Paul Klein, United Nations Transitional Administrator (UNTAES)
 * Brett H. McGurk, Director for Iraq, United States National Security Council
 * Harry B. Harris Jr., Admiral, US Pacific Fleet Command
 * Paul J. Selva, General, US Transportation Command