In July of 1970, Richard Nixon’s executive order created the Defense Distinguished Service Medal. These military medals are issued through the Defense Department and are awarded for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States. It is the highest of our peacetime military awards, and normally is only presented to very senior officers involved with joint branch activities. These military ribbons and medals may also be awarded to less senior officers whose individual contributions to national security or defense are recognized as being equivalent to contributions normally associated with more senior positions encompassing broader responsibilities.
The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chiefs and Vice Chiefs of the Services, and Commanders or Deputy Commanders of the Unified Commands who work directly with the Secretary of Defense are the officers who normally receive these military decorations for exceptional service.
The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is worn below the Army’s Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy’s Navy Cross, and the Air Force’s Air Force Cross; and above the Silver Star in the order or precedence for all military awards. The DDSM takes precedence over the Distinguished Service Medals of each separate service and is not awarded for the same period of service for which Army, Navy, Air Force or Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medals might be awarded. Oak Leaf Clusters are used to denote all subsequent awards of these military medals.
The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is generally available as full size military medals and mini medals, military ribbons and lapel pins. Like most military ribbons and medals, it is available as traditional slide-on, full size military medals or mini-medals, slide-on military ribbons, and the newer thin military medals, mini-medals and ribbons.