The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issues its own version of the Commendation Medal, with a fifth version existing for acts of joint military service performed under the Department of Defense.
Lieutenant General John Randolph Vines is the former commander of the U.S. Army's XVIII Airborne Corps and Multi-National Corps – Iraq.
General Larry D. Welch is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as the 12th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. As Chief of Staff, he served as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipping of a combined active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian force serving at locations in the United States and overseas. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he and the other service chiefs functioned as the principal military advisers to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council and the President. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Nuclear Weapon Surety Task Force for the Defense Science Board.
Albert Bryant Jr. is a retired United States Army brigadier general, best known for service as the Chief of Western Hemisphere Operations during and in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and for his tenure as the Assistant Division Commander of the 4th Infantry Division at the time of the division's detection and capture of deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. Bryant also served as the Deputy Commander of Fort Knox, Kentucky, and the United States Army's Armor School. As Chief of Staff of NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR), Bryant was the highest ranking American general on the KFOR leadership team in the lead up to Kosovo independence.
Lieutenant General Michael David Maples, USA served as the 16th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), appointed on November 4, 2005. He was promoted to lieutenant general on November 29. Maples also commanded the Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (JFCC-ISR) for the United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM). He transferred his Directorship of the Defense Intelligence Agency and his command of JFCC-ISR to LTG Ronald Burgess on March 18, 2009. Maples formally served as the vice director of management of the Joint Staff.
Lieutenant General Thomas R. Turner II is a retired United States Army officer, who served as the commander of the 101st Airborne Division and United States Army North, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Donald Raphael Delauter is a retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general and former director of the Command Planning Staff, Headquarters NORAD, at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.
William H. Brandenburg is a retired major general in the United States Army. He last served as deputy commanding general, U.S. Army, Pacific, August 8, 2003. Prior to his last assignment, he was deputy commanding general for training and readiness, I Corps and Fort Lewis. From November 29, 2004, until December 1, 2005, he deployed to Iraq as deputy commanding general and commanding general, Task Force 134.
Abraham J. Turner is a retired major general of the United States Army and is the previous executive director for the Department of Employment and Workforce in South Carolina.
Lieutenant General Michael S. Tucker is a retired United States Army general who served Commanding General of the First United States Army from 2013 until 2016. He formerly served as the Commanding General of the 2nd Infantry Division.
Lt. Gen. Douglas Edward Lute is a retired United States Army lieutenant general and public servant who served as the United States Permanent Representative to NATO from 2013 to 2017. He was nominated for the post by President Obama on May 23, 2013, confirmed by the Senate on August 1, 2013 by voice vote, and assumed his position on September 3, 2013.
Lieutenant General Donald M. Campbell Jr. is a retired United States Army lieutenant general who served as the commanding general of United States Army Europe. He commanded the United States Army Europe from December 1, 2012, to November 6, 2014.
Keith W. Dayton is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Army who currently serves as the director of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Dayton served as the U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel-Palestinian Authority in Tel Aviv, Israel from December 2005 to October 2010. He has also served as the Director of the Iraq Survey Group, as a senior member of the Joint Staff, and as U.S. Defense Attaché in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia.
John Harold Tilelli Jr. is a retired United States Army four-star general who served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1994 to 1995; Commanding General, United States Army Forces Command from 1995 to 1996; and Commander in Chief, United Nations Command/Commander in Chief, ROK/United States Combined Forces Command/Commander, United States Forces Korea from 1996 to 1999. He retired from the United States Army on January 31, 2000, and later worked for the USO and The Aerospace Corporation.
Sam Sims Walker was a United States Army general who served as the Commanding General of Allied Land Forces, South East Europe from 1977 to 1978.
John R. Allen Jr. is a retired United States Air Force (USAF) brigadier general. Allen served on active duty for 31 years, until his retirement in 1990. He is a highly decorated command pilot with over 6,000 flying hours on B-47 Stratojet, FB-111, B-52 Stratofortress, KC-135 Stratotanker and T-39 Sabreliner aircraft.
Michelle Fraley is a retired military officer and was the Superintendent of the Puerto Rico Police. Fraley is also the first Puerto Rican woman to graduate from West Point Military Academy and the first woman to hold the aforementioned post of superintendent. She is also the former chief of staff of the Army Network Enterprise Technology Command. Academically, Fraley holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Nova Southeastern University, a Master of Arts (M.A.) in International Relations and Affairs from Troy University, and a Ph.D. in organizational leadership from the University of Phoenix.
Stephen L. Davis is a United States Air Force lieutenant general who serves as the Inspector General of the Department of the Air Force since March 2022. He most recently served as the director of global power programs at the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. Previously, he was the director for global operations of the United States Strategic Command.
John Buchanan Richardson IV is a United States Army major general who has been the commanding officer of the 1st Cavalry Division since July 21, 2021. He previously served as the Deputy Commanding General of the III Corps from September 2, 2020, to July 2021. Before that, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans, and Training of the United States Army Forces Command. Richardson is a 1991 graduate of the United States Military Academy.
Jeffrey L. Bannister was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of Operation Joint Guardian (1998), Operation Essential Harvest (2000-2001), Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Freedom Sentinel, he attained the rank of major general and was a recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal (2), Defense Superior Service Medal (4), Legion of Merit (2), and Bronze Star Medal (3). Bannister was most notable for his service as commander of the 10th Mountain Division from 2015 to 2017.
