Defense Distinguished Service Medal

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Obverse of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Awarded by the Secretary of Defense
Type	Military decoration
Eligibility	United States military personnel
Awarded for	Exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to National security or defense of the United States.
Status	Currently awarded
Clasps	Oak leaf clusters for subsequent awards
Statistics
Established	July 9, 1970
First awarded	General Earle Wheeler (1970)
Precedence
Next (higher)	Army - Distinguished Service Cross Navy & Marine Corps - Navy Cross Air Force - Air Force Cross Coast Guard - Coast Guard Cross
Equivalent	Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal Department of Commerce Gold Medal
Next (lower)	Army - Army Distinguished Service Medal Navy & Marine Corps - Navy Distinguished Service Medal Air Force - Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard - Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Public Health Service - Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon

The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to the national security or defense of the United States. The medal was created on July 9, 1970 by President Richard Nixon in Executive Order .

It is the United States's highest non-combat related military award and it is the highest joint service decoration. The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is awarded only while assigned to a joint activity. Normally, such responsibilities deserving of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal are held by the most senior officers such as the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chiefs and Vice Chiefs of the Services, and Commanders and Deputy Commanders of the Combatant Commands, the Director of the Joint Staff etc., whose duties bring them frequently into direct contact with the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, and other senior government officials. In addition, the medal may also be awarded to other service members whose direct and individual contributions to national security or national defense are recognized as being so exceptional in scope and value as to be equivalent to contributions normally associated with positions encompassing broader responsibilities.

This decoration takes precedence over the Distinguished Service Medals of the separate services and is not to be awarded to any individual for a period of service for which an Army, Navy, Air Force or Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is awarded.