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Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
Dept of Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
Awarded by
United States Department of Homeland Security
Type Military medal
Eligibility Members of the United States Armed Forces
Awarded for Exceptionally meritorious service
Status Currently awarded
Statistics
Established 1 March 2002
First awarded 2006
Last awarded 7 September 2012[1]
Precedence
Next (higher) Coast Guard - Coast Guard Cross
Army - Distinguished Service Cross
Navy (Navy-Marine) - Navy Cross
Air Force - Air Force Cross
Equivalent Distinguished Service Medal: Defense
Next (lower) Coast Guard - Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal ribbon

The Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States by the United States Department of Homeland Security. The current version of the medal was established on March 1, 2002.[2]

History[]

The decoration was originally established as the Transportation Distinguished Service Medal by United States Executive order 12824, signed by President George H.W. Bush on December 7, 1992. On February 28, 2003, President George W. Bush signed United States Executive order 13286, which, among other things, replaced the Transportation version of the award with the Homeland Security version retroactively to March 1, 2002. On April 5, 2011, President Barack Obama amended Executive Order 12824, as amended, modifying the award eligibility from "a member of the Coast Guard" to "any member of the Armed Forces of the United States".[3]

Recipients[]

Gen Craig McKinley Awarded DHS DSM

Gen McKinley speaks during a change-of-responsibility ceremony after being awarded the Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal.

The first Department of Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal was awarded to then-Vice Admiral Thad W. Allen in 2006 for his service in response to Hurricane Katrina. Admiral Allen received the award for a second time in 2010 at the end of his term as Commandant of the Coast Guard.[4][5]

Admiral Thomas H. Collins was presented the award in 2006 at the end of his term as Commandant of the Coast Guard.[6]

Vice Admiral Vivien Crea was presented the award in 2009 at the end of her term as Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard.[7]

General Craig R. McKinley was awarded the Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal at the change-of-responsibility ceremony marking the end of his tenure as the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.[1]

Order of precedence[]

As a distinguished service medal, this decoration is one of the highest awards that can be bestowed upon a member of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The award would be worn after the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross and Air Force Cross and, for members of the Coast Guard, before the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Department-specific DSM decorations. The medal may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States.

See also[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Panetta hosts Chief Change for National Guard Bureau". U.S. Department of Defense. http://www.defense.gov/photoessays/photoessayss.aspx?id=3145. Retrieved September 27, 2012. 
  2. "14 USC § 492 – Distinguished service medal". Legal Information Institute, Cornell University Law School. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode14/usc_sec_14_00000492----000-notes.html. Retrieved September 27, 2012. 
  3. "Executive Order 13569--Amendments to Executive Orders 12824, 12835, 12859, and 13532, Reestablishment Pursuant to Executive Order 13498, and Revocation of Executive Order 13507". U.S. Department of Defense. 5 April 2011. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/04/05/executive-order-amendments-executive-orders-12824-12835-12859-and-13532-. Retrieved September 27, 2012. 
  4. Barr, Stephen (May 11, 2006). "Honoring Those Who Went Above and Beyond During Katrina". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/10/AR2006051002081.html. Retrieved September 27, 2012. 
  5. Schept, Susan (25 May 2010). "Oil spill overshadows CG change of command". Navy Times. http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/05/coastguard_allen_papp_change_command_052510w/. Retrieved September 27, 2012. 
  6. "Coast Guard Change of Command Ceremony". C-SPAN Video Library. 25 May 2006. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/192719-1. Retrieved September 27, 2012. 
  7. "U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano congratulates Coast Guard Vice Adm. Vivien Crea for a job well done during the Coast Guard Vice Commandant Change of Watch Ceremony at Coast Guard Telecommunications and Information Systems Command.". USCG Press. http://www.flickr.com/photos/uscgpress/3798936670/. Retrieved September 27, 2012. 
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The original article can be found at Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal and the edit history here.
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