| Secretary of the Air Force Distinguished Public Service Award | |
| Presenter: | Secretary of the Air Force |
| Eligibility: | Non-Employee Civilians "who have personally made a profound contribution on the National Level, and which represents substantial progress to the AF mission. The service performed must be of major significance that other forms of public service recognition may be inadequate." |
| Higher: | None |
| Lower: | Chief of Staff of the Air Force Award for Exceptional Public Service |
| Related: | Navy Distinguished Public Service Award Commander's Award for Public Service |
| Image2 Size: | 110px |
The Department of the Air Force Commander's Public Service Award is the highest level award granted by the Secretary of the Air Force to a non-employee civilian. It consists of a cased medal, ribbon, mess dress or miniature medal, lapel button, and a citation certificate.
The award was created in 2006 following the creation of the Commander's Award for Public Service to further supplement the U.S. Department of the Air Force's awards for non-employees.[1]
The medal is gold in color and suspended on a ribbon which is largely dark blue with symmetrical stripes in light blue, yellow, and white.
According to Department guidelines "[t]he Secretary of the Air Force Distinguished Public Service award is awarded to private citizens not employed by the USAF, and who have personally made a profound contribution on the National Level, and which represents substantial progress to the AF mission. The service performed must be of major significance that other forms of public service recognition may be inadequate."[1]
As a result of this award's high-level criteria many who receive it are U.S Congressional Members or else major defense contractors.
Again according to the Department guidelines for the award:
"Documentation of factual evidence that a highly significant service has been provided to the AF shall be forwarded with each nomination. A biographical sketch and cover letter, signed by the MAJCOM Commander or equivalent, must contain comments that the services cited were voluntary, performed as a public service, or motivated by patriotism with no implication or remuneration, and that the person recommended had no commercial or profit- making relationship with the AF. It must contain the individual’s permanent home address, previous US decorations, if any, authority for the decoration, and inclusive service dates. The nomination package must also include a one-page written recommendation describing specific accomplishments, with an attached citation. Nomination may be submitted at any time, but must be received by SAF/MRBP or SAF/AA at least 90 calendar days before presentation."[1]