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Awards and decorations of the United States government

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Awards 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. government awards may also be issued to military personnel of the United States Armed Forces and be worn in conjunction with awards and decorations of the United States military. In order of precedence, those U.S. non-military awards and decorations authorized for wear, are worn after U.S. military personal decorations and unit awards and before U.S. military campaign and service awards.

The following is a selection of civilian awards which are presently issued by the U.S. government.

Office of the President of the United States[]

Senior Executive Service[]

  • Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive
  • Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive
  • Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Senior Professional
  • Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Senior Professional

United States Congress[]

  • Congressional Gold Medal
  • Congressional Silver Medal
  • Congressional Bronze Medal
  • Congressional Gold Certificate
  • Congressional Silver Certificate
  • Congressional Bronze Certificate
  • Congressional Award for Youth
  • Congressional Award Month Guide

United States Intelligence Community[]

The National Intelligence Awards (NIA) Program is administered by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for the United States Intelligence Community (IC).[5]

National Intelligence Community Awards[]

Significant contribution awards[6]
National Intelligence Public Service Awards[6]
Special eligibility awards[6]
  • National Intelligence Joint Duty Service Device
  • Senior National Intelligence Service Device
Former award prior to establishment of the NIA Program

Central Intelligence Agency[]

CIA Awards[7]

Department of Commerce[]

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration[]

Main article: Awards and decorations of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
  • NOAA Corps Meritorious Service Medal
  • NOAA Administrator’s Award
  • NOAA Corps Commendation Medal
  • NOAA Corps Achievement Medal
  • NOAA Corps Director's Ribbon
  • NOAA Units Citation Award

Non-government decorations[]

Non-governmental organizations[8]
  • NOAA Association of Commissioned Officers (ACO) Awards
Junior Officer of the Year = NOAA ACO Award Medal (without attachments)
Science Award = NOAA ACO Award Medal (with bronze "S" device)
Engineering Award = NOAA ACO Award Medal (with bronze "E" device)
  • Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Awards
Society of American Military Engineers' Colbert Medal
Society of American Military Engineers Karo Award

Campaign and service awards[]

  • NOAA Corps Outstanding Volunteer Service Award Medal
  • NOAA Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (no longer awarded)
  • NOAA Corps Atlantic Sea Service Ribbon
  • NOAA Corps Pacific Sea Service Ribbon
  • NOAA Corps Mobile Duty Service Ribbon
  • NOAA Corps International Service Ribbon
  • NOAA Rifle Ribbon (no longer awarded)
  • NOAA Pistol Ribbon (no longer awarded)

Incentive awards (without medal or ribbon)[]

  • NOAA Technology Transfer Award[9]
  • NOAA Distinguished Career Award

Department of Defense[]

DOD-level awards for civilian service[]

DOD-level awards for private citizens[]

Office of the Secretary of Defense[]

OSD-level awards for civilian service[]

OSD-level awards for civilian service or private citizens[]

  • Office of the Secretary of Defense Award for Exceptional Public Service
  • Office of the Secretary of Defense Award for Outstanding Achievement

Joint Chiefs of Staff[]

[12]

  • CJCS Award for Distinguished Public Service (DPS)
  • CJCS Award for Outstanding Public Service (OPS)
  • CJCS Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Award (JDSCA)
  • CJCS Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award (JMCSA)
  • Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award (JCSCA), its military equivalent is the Joint Service Commendation Medal
  • Joint Civilian Service Achievement Award (JCSAA), its military equivalent is the Joint Service Achievement Medal

DOD Office of the Inspector General (OIG)[]

  • DOD Inspector General Distinguished Service Award
  • DOD Inspector General Superior Civilian Service Award
  • DOD Inspector General Meritorious Civilian Service Award

Department of the Army[]

Department of the Army awards for civilian service[]

[13]

Department of the Army awards for public service[]

Department of the Air Force[]

Department of the Navy[]

Defense Commissary Agency[]

Defense Contract Audit Agency[]

  • Distinguished Civilian Service Medal
  • Meritorious Civilian Service Medal

Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA)[]

  • Exceptional Civilian Service Award
  • Meritorious Civilian Service Award
  • Civilian Career Service Award

Defense Information Systems Agency[]

  • DISA Exceptional Civilian Service Medal
  • DISA Meritorious Civilian Service Medal

Defense Intelligence Agency[]

  • DIA Meritorious Civilian Service Medal
  • DIA Exceptional Civilian Service Medal
  • DIA Civilian Achievement Medal
  • DIA Award for Excellence Medal
  • DIA Director's Award
  • DIA Leadership Award
  • DIA Civilian Combat Support Medal
  • DIA Civilian Expeditionary Medal

Defense Logistics Agency[]

  • Distinguished Career Service Award
  • Meritorious Civilian Service Award
  • Superior Civilian Service Award

Defense Supply Agency[]

  • DSA Exceptional Civilian Service Award

Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)[]

  • DTRA Distinguished Service Award
  • DTRA Meritorious Service Award
  • DTRA Exceptional Service Award
Formerly the Defense Special Weapons Agency (DSWA) Awards
  • DSWA Director's Lifetime Achievement Award
  • DSWA Exceptional Civilian Service Award
  • DSWA Meritorious Civilian Service Award
NGA Meritorious Civilian Service Medal

Image of NGA's Meritorious Civilian Service Medal as awarded to honorees

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency[]

Formerly known as the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA), the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) awards the following medals to honor its DoD civilian employees for outstanding service:

  • NIMA or NGA Distinguished Civilian Service Medal
  • NIMA or NGA Meritorious Civilian Service Medal
  • NIMA or NGA Superior Civilian Service Medal
  • NIMA or NGA Meritorious Unit Citation

National Reconnaissance Office[]

  • NRO Distinguished Service Medal (Gold Medal)
  • NRO Superior Service Medal (Silver Medal)
  • NRO Meritorious Service Medal (Bronze Medal)
  • NRO Director's Circle Award

National Security Agency[]

  • NSA Exceptional Civilian Service Medal

Department of Education[]

Employee awards[]

  • Secretary's Golden Apple Award
  • Secretary's Executive Leadership Award
  • Secretary's Supervisory Leadership Award
  • Secretary's Innovation Award
  • Secretary's Customer Service Award
  • Secretary's Teamwork Award
  • Secretary's Diversity and Inclusion Award
  • Secretary's Collaboration Award
  • ED Peer Recognition Award
  • James P. Keenan Award

Public awards[]

National Blue Ribbon Schools seal

Insignia that designates a Blue Ribbon School

  • Presidential Scholar Medallion – Awarded to the nations top 141 graduating High School Seniors. 20 of these are Presidential Scholars in the Arts. This award is commissioned under an executive order from the President. Recipients are chosen under the Department of Education, and visit the White House to meet the President.
  • National Blue Ribbon Schools Program
  • PEAP-E President's Education Excellence Awards Program for Elementary Schools (with Certificate and Gold Seal in Blue Pin) (since 1983)
  • PEAP-E President's Education Excellence Awards Program for Middle Schools (with Certificate and Gold Seal in Red Pin) (since 1983)
  • PEAP-E President's Education Excellence Awards Program for High Schools (with Certificate and Gold Seal in Black Pin) (since 1983)
  • PEAP-A President's Education Achievement Awards Program for Elementary, Middle and High Schools (with Certificate and Silver Seal in White Pin) (since 1983)

Department of Energy[]

In June 2007, Secretary Samuel Bodman introduced a new awards program[15] for non-monetary recognition of its employees and contractors.

Secretary's Honor Awards
Honor awards that are presented annually and replaces the previous Secretary's Gold, Silver and Bronze awards.
  1. The James R. Schlesinger Award – recipient receives a polished brass and mahogany clock along with a shadow box framed calligraphy certificate signed by the Secretary of Energy and a commemorative medal honoring former Secretary of Energy James R. Schlesinger.
  2. Secretary of Energy's Excellence Award – recipient receives a crystal medallion award and leather-encased certificate
  3. Secretary of Energy's Achievement Award – recipient receives a crystal statue award and leather-encased certificate
Secretary's Appreciation Award
Appreciation awards that are presented at any time
Departure Awards
Departure awards may be presented upon retirement or departure from the agency
  1. Secretary of Energy's Exceptional Service Award
  2. Secretary of Energy's Distinguished Service Award
  3. Secretary of Energy's Meritorious Service Award
  • DOE Award for Valor
  • DOE Secretary's Award
  • DOE Exceptional Service Medal
  • DOE Meritorious Service Award

Department of Health and Human Services[]

  • HHS Secretary's Recognition Award
  • HHS Secretary's Special Citation
  • HHS Secretary’s Certificate of Appreciation
  • HHS Secretary's Letter of Appreciation
  • HHS Distinguished Public Service Award
  • HHS Medallion Seal Award
  • HHS Secretary's Award for Distinguished Service

National Institutes of Health[]

  • NIH Director's Award – Scientific/Medical
  • NIH Director's Award – Technical/Clerical/Support
  • NIH Director's Award – Administrative
  • NIH Director's Award – Mentoring

United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps[]

Main article: Awards and decorations of the Public Health Service
  • Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal
  • Public Health Service Meritorious Service Medal
  • Surgeon General's Medallion
  • Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal
  • Public Health Service Outstanding Service Medal
  • Public Health Service Commendation Medal
  • File:PubHealthRib.gif Public Health Service Achievement Medal
  • Public Health Service Citation Medal
  • Public Health Service Outstanding Unit Citation (ribbon only)
  • Public Health Service Unit Commendation (ribbon only)
  • File:USA - PHS SMALLPOX ERADICATION.jpgPublic Health Service Smallpox Campaign Award
  • Public Health Service Global Health Campaign Medal
  • Public Health Service Hazardous Duty Service Award
  • Public Health Service Foreign Duty Service Award
  • Public Health Service Special Assignment Service Award
  • Public Health Service Isolated Hardship Service Award
  • Public Health Service Crisis Response Service Award
  • Public Health Service Global Response Service Award
  • Public Health Service Response Service Award
  • Public Health Service National Emergency Preparedness Award
  • Public Health Service Recruitment Service Ribbon
  • Public Health Service Global Health Initiative Service Medal
  • Public Health Service Bicentennial Unit Commendation Award
  • Public Health Service Regular Corps Ribbon (ribbon only)
  • Commissioned Corps Training Ribbon (ribbon only)

Other Public Health Service Association Ribbons

  • Association of Military Surgeons of the United States
  • Commissioned Officers Association
  • Reserve Officers Association

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)[]

  • CDC/ATSDR William Watson Medal of Excellence (no ribbon)

President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition[]

  • PSA Presidential Sports Award (with Certificate, Medal and Emblem)
  • PCA-P Presidential Champions Platinum Award (with Certificate, Medallion and Citation)
  • PCA-G Presidential Champions Gold Award (with Certificate, Medal, Pin and Emblem)
  • PCA-S Presidential Champions Silver Award (with Certificate, Medal, Pin and Emblem)
  • PCA-B Presidential Champions Bronze Award (with Certificate, Medal, Pin and Emblem)
  • PALA+ Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (with Certificate, Pin and Emblem)
  • PYFA Presidential Youth Fitness Award (with Certificate, Medal and Emblem)
  • Pr-PFA Presidential Physical Fitness Award (with Certificate and Emblem)
  • N-PFA National Physical Fitness Award (with Certificate and Emblem)
  • P-PFA Participant Physical Fitness Award (with Certificate and Emblem)
  • HFA Health Fitness Award (with Certificate and Emblem)

Department of Homeland Security[]

  • Secretary's Gold Medal
  • Secretary's Silver Medal
  • Secretary's Award for Valor
  • Secretary's Award for Exemplary Service
  • Secretary's Award for Excellence
  • Secretary's Award for TEAM DHS Excellence
  • Secretary's Award for Diversity Management
  • Secretary's Award for Volunteer Service

U.S. Customs and Border Protection[]

  • Border Patrol Newton Azrak Award
  • Commissioners Distinguished Career Service Award (Proposed in 2002, Never Authorized)
  • Commissioners Exceptional Service Medal (Proposed in 2002, Never Authorized)
  • Commissioners Meritorious Service Award (Proposed in 2002, Never Authorized)
  • Commissioners Special Commendation Award (Proposed in 2002, Never Authorized)
  • Border Patrol Chief's Commendation (Awarded from 2002–2004)
  • Border Patrol Excellence in Group Achievement (Proposed in 2002, Never Authorized)
  • Border Patrol Purple Cross
  • Border Patrol Academy Honor Graduate Medal (Proposed in 2002, Never Authorized)
  • Border Patrol Long Service Medal (Proposed in 2002, Never Authorized)
  • Border Patrol 75th Anniversary Medal (No Longer Authorized for Wear)

Federal Emergency Management Agency[]

  • FEMA Distinguished Service Medal
  • Secretary's Award For Distinguished Public Safety Service (may be awarded by the Attorney General or FEMA Director)

U.S. Coast Guard[]

U.S. Secret Service[]

  • Director's Award of Valor
  • Director's Life Saving Award
  • Director's Distinguished Service Award

Department of the Interior[]

Honor Awards

  • Distinguished Service Award
  • Meritorious Service Award
  • Unit Award for Excellence of Service
  • Superior Service Award
  • Citizen's Award for Exceptional Service

Heroic Act Honor Awards

  • Valor Award
  • Citizen's Award for Bravery
  • Exemplary Act Award

Other Honor Awards

  • Departmental Unsung Hero Award
  • Secretary's Diversity Award
  • Environmental Achievement Award
  • Award of Merit (Safety)
  • Professional Service Award (Safety)
  • Outstanding Service Award (for Political Appointees)
  • Partners in Conservation Award

Department of Justice[]

  • Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor (awarded by the President to public safety officers cited by the Attorney General)
  • Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery-Federal
  • Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery-State and Local
  • Secretary's Award For Distinguished Public Safety Service (may be awarded by the Attorney General or FEMA Director)
  • Attorney General's Award for Exceptional Service
  • Attorney General's Award for Exceptional Heroism
  • Mary C. Lawton Lifetime Service Award
  • William French Smith Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cooperative Law Enforcement
  • Edward H. Levi Award for Outstanding Professionalism and Exemplary Integrity
  • Attorney General's Award for Meritorious Public Service
  • Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service
  • Attorney General's Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement
  • Attorney General's Award for Excellence in Management
  • Attorney General's Award for Excellence in Information Technology
  • Attorney General's Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security
  • Attorney General's Award for Excellence in Legal Support
  • Attorney General's Award for Excellence in Administrative Support
  • John Marshall Awards
  • Attorney General's Award for Outstanding Service in Freedom of Information Act Administration
  • Attorney General's Award for Fraud Prevention
  • Attorney General's Award for Outstanding Contributions to Community Partnerships for Public Safety
  • Attorney General's Award for Outstanding Service by a Federal Wage System Employee
  • Attorney General's Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee
  • Young American Award; transferred to the Boy Scouts of America in 1971

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives[]

  • ATF Distinguished Service Medal
  • ATF Gold Star Medal
  • ATF Medal of Valor

Drug Enforcement Administration[]

  • DEA Purple Heart Award

Federal Bureau of Investigation[]

Main article: FBI Honorary Medals
  • FBI Star
  • FBI Medal for Meritorious Achievement
  • FBI Shield of Bravery
  • FBI Medal of Valor
  • FBI Memorial Star

Federal Bureau of Prisons[]

  • Federal Bureau of Prisons Distinguished Service Medal (Gold Medal)
  • Federal Bureau of Prisons Meritorious Service Medal (Silver Medal)
  • Federal Bureau of Prisons Commendable Service Medal (Bronze Medal)

Department of State[]

Main article: Awards of the United States Department of State

Honor Awards[]

Service Awards[]

United States Agency for International Development[]

United States Information Agency/Broadcasting Board of Governors[]

Arms Control and Disarmament Agency[]

Foreign Agricultural Service[]

  • Distinguished Honor Award
  • Superior Honor Award
  • Meritorious Honor Award

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service[]

  • Distinguished Honor Award
  • Superior Honor Award
  • Meritorious Honor Award

Department of Transportation[]

Federal Aviation Administration[]

  • FAA Valor Medal

Maritime Administration[]

United States Merchant Marine

Department of the Treasury[]

  • Albert Gallatin Award
  • Secretary of the Treasury's Distinguished Service Award

Internal Revenue Service[]

  • IRS Commissioner's Award

Office of Thrift Supervision[]

  • OTS Director's Award for Excellence

Environmental Protection Agency[]

  • EPA Gold Medal for Exceptional Service (individual and group)
  • EPA Silver Medal for Superior Service (individual and group)
  • EPA Bronze Medal for Commendable Service (individual and group)
  • EPA Distinguished Career Service Award
  • Paul G. Keough Award for Administrative Excellence
  • Glenda A. Farmer Award for Exemplary Technical Support
  • Trudy A. Speciner Non-Supervisory Award for Advancing Environmental Protection
  • President's Environmental Youth Award[4]

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)[]

See also: NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s most prestigious honor awards are approved by the NASA administrator and presented to carefully selected individuals or groups of individuals, either government and non-government, who have distinguished themselves by making outstanding contributions to the agency’s mission.[16]

Early NASA references to award criteria grouped many awards into equal positions in the order of precedence. Beginning in 1965, references to the order of precedence were dropped from regulations regarding specific awards. The current order of precedence for NASA medals is:[17][18]

National Science Foundation (NSF)[]

  • Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching[1] (PAEMST)
  • Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM)
  • Vannevar Bush Award
  • NSB Public Service Award

Office of Personnel Management[]

  • OPM Meritorious Service Medal

Selective Service System[]

  • Selective Service System Distinguished Service Medal
  • Selective Service System Exceptional Service Medal
  • Selective Service System Meritorious Service Medal
  • Selective Service System WW II Service Medal

President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion[]

  • Y2K Service Medal

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.paemst.org/ PAEMST
  2. ↑ http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/services/awards_presidential.html Presidential Awards for Leadership in Federal Energy Management
  3. ↑ http://www.preserveamerica.gov/presidentialaward.html Preserve America Presidential Awards
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.epa.gov/peya/ President's Environmental Youth Awards
  5. ↑ http://www.fas.org/irp/dni/icd/icd-655.pdf
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Intelligence Community Directive Number 655". 9 February 2012. http://www.dni.gov/electronic_reading_room/ICD_655.pdf. Retrieved 1 July 2012. 
  7. ↑ CIA web page, Medals of the CIA
  8. ↑ http://beta.noaacorps.noaa.gov/cpc/procedures/corps_directives/chapter_12/ncd_ch12part7.pdf
  9. ↑ http://www.corporateservices.noaa.gov/~ames/NAOs/Chap_202/naos202_451A.html#APPEND_E
  10. ↑ "US Army Civilian Personnel Online". December 2, 2008. http://cpol.army.mil/library/mer/awards/afcsm.html. Retrieved December 11, 2010. 
  11. ↑ "US Army Civilian Personnel Online". April 1, 2009. http://cpol.army.mil/library/mer/awards/gwot-medal.html. Retrieved December 11, 2010. 
  12. ↑ McChrystal, Stanley A.. "CJCSI 1100.01C Joint Staff Military and Civilian Awards Program". Defense Technical Information Center. http://www.dtic.mil/cjcs_directives/cdata/unlimit/1100_01.pdf. Retrieved 28 September 2013. 
  13. ↑ MER: Awards Index Department of the Army Honorary Awards for DA Employees
  14. ↑ "US Army Civilian Personnel Online". December 2, 2008. http://cpol.army.mil/library/mer/awards/cahs.html. Retrieved September 14, 2012. 
  15. ↑ http://humancapital.doe.gov/pers/SecretaryBodmanMemo.pdf DOE Secretary Awards Program
  16. ↑ McCann, Mike (November 2008). "Agency Honor Awards". Archived from the original on July 16, 2009. http://web.archive.org/web/20090716093612/http://nasapeople.nasa.gov/awards/nasamedals.htm. Retrieved July 14, 2009. 
  17. ↑ Bender, James and Strandberg, John E. The Call Of Duty (expanded edition) January 1, 2005, p. 487.
  18. ↑ "Agency Honor Awards". NASA Awards. NASA. http://nasapeople.nasa.gov/awards/nasamedals.htm. Retrieved 12 September 2013. 
Orders, decorations, and medals by country
  • Highest by country: civilian awards
  • military decorations
    • wound decorations
    • prisoner of war decorations
  • scouting awards
Africa
Former
  • Bophuthatswana1
  • Ciskei1
  • Rhodesia1
  • South West Africa
  • Transkei1
  • Venda1
  • Zanzibar
    • Americas
    Former
  • Mexican Empire
    • Asia
    Former
  • British Raj
  • Korean Empire
  • Manchukuo
  • South Vietnam
  • South Yemen
    • Europe
    Former
  • Artsakh1
  • Austria-Hungary
  • Kingdom of Bulgaria
  • Bulgarian People's Republic
  • Czechoslovakia
  • Germany
  • Independent State of Croatia
  • Kingdom of Italy
  • Italian states
  • Kingdom of Hungary
  • Hungarian People's Republic
  • Polish People's Republic
  • Kingdom of Romania
  • Socialist Republic of Romania
  • Yugoslavia
  • Soviet Union
    • Republics
    • Oceania
    • Australia
    • Kiribati
    • Fiji
    • New Zealand
    • Niue
    • Papua New Guinea
    • Samoa
    • Solomon Islands
    • Tonga
    • Tuvalu
    Former
    1Partially recognised country
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