Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor explained

Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor
Presenter:	the Office of the Secretary of Defense
Type:	Civilian valor award
Eligibility:	Department of Defense civilian employees and private individuals
Awarded For:	An act of heroism or sacrifice, with voluntary risk of personal safety in the face of danger either on or off the job.^[1]
Status:	Currently awarded
Established:	2001
Firstawarded:	15 July 2002
Lastawarded:	14 August 2018
Total Awarded:	17
Related:	Secretary of the Army Award for Valor

The Office of the Secretary of the Defense Medal for Valor is the highest civilian award for valor presented by the United States Department of Defense. Created in 2001 in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, the medal recognizes government employees and private citizens who perform an act of heroism or sacrifice, with voluntary risk to their personal safety in the face of danger.^[1]

History

The medal was created in late 2001.^{[2] [3] [4]} The military equivalent of the medal for army soldiers is the Distinguished Service Cross.^[5]

Eligibility

The act of bravery is eligible for recognition if the act is:

• Related to a Department of Defense employee or activity
• The Department of Defense in some way benefits from the act
• The employee is saved by an individual or the employee saves an individual from danger.^[6]

Appearance

The medal of the award is gold in color and 34.925mm in diameter. The obverse depicts a five pointed star on top of a laurel wreath. At the top of the medal is inscribed "VALOR". The reverse of the medal has a small laurel wreath under a rectangular plate for engraving the recipient's name. The words “AWARDED TO” are inscribed above and parallel to the name plate. Below the plate are the words “FOR EXHIBITING BRAVERY”. The medal is suspended from a ribbon 35 mm in width in ultramarine blue. On either side of the ribbon are two stripes of old glory red, inside the red are two thin stripes of white.

Recipients

• Eric M. Jones, for actions at the Pentagon on 11 September 2001^{[7] [8] [5] [1]}
• Steve A. DeChiaro, for actions at the Pentagon on 11 September 2001^{[7] [9]}
• Dr. Andrew Rathmell, for actions in Baquba, Iraq on 21 January 2004^[8]
• Alan Johnston, for actions in al-Kasik, Iraq on 7 August 2004^[5]
• James M. Feltis III, for action on 11 January 2005 (armed suspect)^[10]
• John Kinnard for actions at the Pentagon on 11 September 2001 and for actions on 11 January 2005 (armed suspect) Currently, the only individual awarded the medal twice.
• David Queen, for actions on 11 January 2005 (armed suspect)^[10]
• William Caouette, for actions on 11 January 2005 (armed suspect)^[10]
• Peter A. Donaldson, for actions in April, 2008, rescuing a woman from a burning home
• Jeffery Amos, for the actions during the 2010 Pentagon shooting 4 March 2010^[1]
• Marvin Carraway, Jr., for the actions during the 2010 Pentagon shooting 4 March 2010^[1]
• Dexter Jones, for the actions during the 2010 Pentagon shooting 4 March 2010^[1]
• Colin Richards, for the actions during the 2010 Pentagon shooting 4 March 2010^[1]
• David Jensen, for the actions on 10 September 2012 on Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan^[11]
• William "Tim" Nix, for his actions on 7 August 2015 defending against an insurgent attack against Camp Integrity, Afghanistan.^{[12] [13] [14] [15] [16]}
• Michael Dunne, for his actions on 7 August 2015 defending against an insurgent attack against Camp Integrity, Afghanistan.
• Brandon Seabolt, for his valor under enemy fire during combat operations on 17 December 2015 in Helmand, Afghanistan.
• Anthony Sadler, for his actions on 21 August 2015 stopping a gunman during the 2015 Thalys train attack^[17]

See also

• Awards and decorations of the United States government

Notes and References

1. Web site: OSD Medal for Valor Presented to PFPA Officers . Pentagon Force Protection Agency Office of Public Affairs . 25 June 2010 . 2011-07-18 .
2. Web site: 14 November 2018. ASSIST-QuickSearch Document Details. quicksearch.dla.mil.
3. Web site: 14 November 2018. ASSIST-QuickSearch Document Details. quicksearch.dla.mil.
4. Web site: 14 November 2018. ASSIST-QuickSearch Document Details. quicksearch.dla.mil.
5. Web site: Cooper . Mechele . Mainer joins elite crew of Medal for Valor recipient . Kennebec Journal. Maine Today Media Inc. . 23 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100526035504/http://www.kjonline.com:80/news/Mainer-joins-elite-crew-of-Medal-for-Valor-recipi.html . dead . 26 May 2010 . 2011-07-18.
6. Web site: Office of the Secretary of Defense Honorary Awards Guide. Labor and Management Employee Relations Division Human Resources Directorate . October 2008 . doc . 2011-07-18.
7. Web site: Medal of Valor Awards. C-SPAN.org.
8. Web site: VALOR UNDER FIRE BRITISH CIVILIAN AWARDED US BRAVERY MEDAL . Coalition Provisional Authority . 29 April 2004 . 2011-07-18.
9. Web site: Sept. 11 Heroes to Receive Medal of Valor . Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) . US Department of Defense . 12 July 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20100302033340/http://www.defense.gov/advisories/advisory.aspx?advisoryid=508 . dead . 2 March 2010 . 2 March 2010.
10. Web site: Press Advisory: Pentagon Police Dedicate Roll Call Room To Fallen Officer . Defense.gov . 2012-05-31.
11. Web site: WP Resident Receives Highest Civilian Award for Valor . ThePilot.com . 15 April 2014. 2014-04-17.
12. News: Civilian contractors, former Soldiers receive Medal of Valor for actions in Afghanistan. www.army.mil. 2018-09-14. en.
13. Web site: CACI Professionals Supporting U.S. Military OperationsAwarded Medal for Valor. 14 November 2018.
14. Web site: DoD Awards Medal for Valor to Two CACI Employees; Ken Asbury Quoted - GovCon Wire. 28 August 2018 . 14 November 2018.
15. CACI Professionals Supporting U.S. Military Operations Awarded Medal for Valor. 14 August 2018 . 14 November 2018.
16. Web site: Three DoD Contractors Get Highest Civilian Valor Award for Afghan Actions. Richard. Sisk. 14 November 2018. 14 August 2018.
17. Web site: Secretary Carter to Present Medals to French Train Attack Heroes . U.S. Department of Defense . 2015-09-17.