Defense Distinguished Service Medal

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The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-combat military decoration awarded by the U.S. Department of Defense for exceptionally meritorious service in a position of great responsibility.

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Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf United States military award
military decoration
authorizedBy President of the United States
awardedFor distinguished service to the United States government in a duty of great responsibility
exceptionally meritorious service in a position of great responsibility
awardedTo Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Combatant Commanders
other high-ranking U.S. military leaders
senior military officers
awardingAuthority President of the United States
United States Secretary of Defense
surface form: Secretary of Defense
campaignOrService peacetime service
wartime service
country United States of America
surface form: United States
criteriaDetail service must be of a level equivalent to that required for the Distinguished Service Medal of a military department
eligibility U.S. enlisted personnel
U.S. military officers
members of the United States Armed Forces
established 1970
establishedBy Department of Defense
surface form: United States Department of Defense
firstAwarded 1970s
higherThan Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
isPartOf United States awards and decorations
surface form: United States military awards system
lowerThan Air Force Cross
Coast Guard Cross
Distinguished Service Cross
Medal of Honor
Navy Cross
nonCombat true
orderOfPrecedence highest Defense Department non-combat decoration
postNominals DSM
surface form: DDSM
presentedBy Department of Defense
surface form: United States Department of Defense
ribbonColor gold
purple
scopeOfService Department of Defense-wide
joint service
serviceBranch multi-service
shape medal suspended from a ribbon
status currently awarded
type non-combat decoration
usedBy United States Air Force
United States Army
United States Coast Guard
United States Marine Corps
United States Navy
United States Space Force

Referenced by (22)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

General C. Robert Kehler awardReceived Defense Distinguished Service Medal
subject surface form: C. Robert Kehler
Colin Powell (U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff) awardReceived Defense Distinguished Service Medal
subject surface form: Colin Powell
David Petraeus awardReceived Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Francis R. Scobee awardReceived Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Grace Hopper awardReceived Defense Distinguished Service Medal
James R. Clapper awardReceived Defense Distinguished Service Medal
General John W. Raymond awardReceived Defense Distinguished Service Medal
subject surface form: John W. Raymond
General Kevin P. Chilton awardReceived Defense Distinguished Service Medal
subject surface form: Kevin P. Chilton
Laurel B. Clark awardReceived Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Michael J. Smith awardReceived Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Michael V. Hayden awardReceived Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. awardReceived Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Rick D. Husband awardReceived Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Tommy Franks awardReceived Defense Distinguished Service Medal
William C. McCool awardReceived Defense Distinguished Service Medal
John F. Kelly hasHonor Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Admiral Lisa M. Franchetti hasHonor Defense Distinguished Service Medal
subject surface form: Lisa M. Franchetti
Paul M. Nakasone hasHonor Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Lieutenant General Thomas F. Metz hasHonor Defense Distinguished Service Medal
subject surface form: Thomas F. Metz
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal higherAward Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal higherAward Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Wesley Clark militaryAward Defense Distinguished Service Medal