Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor

Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor
Reverse (right) and obverse (left) of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor
Type	Civilian valor award
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]
Country	United States
Presented by	the Office of the Secretary of Defense
Eligibility	Department of Defense civilian employees and private individuals
Status	Currently awarded
Established	2001
First award	15 July 2002
Final award	14 August 2018
Total	17
Ribbon bar of the medal
Precedence
Equivalent	Distinguished Service Cross (U.S. Army)
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. ^[2] 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. ^{[3] [4] [5]} The military equivalent of the medal for army soldiers is the Distinguished Service Cross. ^[6]

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. ^[7]

Appearance

The medal of the award is gold in color and 34.925 millimeters (1.3750 in) 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 ^{[2] [8] [9] [6] [1]}
• Steve A. DeChiaro, for actions at the Pentagon on 11 September 2001 ^{[8] [2]}
• Dr. Andrew Rathmell, for actions in Baquba, Iraq on 21 January 2004 ^[9]
• Alan Johnston, for actions in al-Kasik, Iraq on 7 August 2004 ^[6]
• James M. Feltis III, for action on 11 January 2005 (armed suspect) ^[10]
• John Kinnard for actions at the Pentagon on 11 September 2001 ^[2] 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^{[ citation needed ]}
• 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. ^[12]
• Brandon Seabolt, for his valor under enemy fire during combat operations on 17 December 2015 in Helmand, Afghanistan. ^[12]
• 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

References

1. "OSD Medal for Valor Presented to PFPA Officers" (PDF). Pentagon Force Protection Agency Office of Public Affairs. 25 June 2010. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
2. "Sept. 11 Heroes to Receive Medal of Valor". Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs). US Department of Defense. 12 July 2002. Archived from the original on 2 March 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
3. "ASSIST-QuickSearch Document Details". quicksearch.dla.mil. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
4. "ASSIST-QuickSearch Document Details". quicksearch.dla.mil. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
5. "ASSIST-QuickSearch Document Details". quicksearch.dla.mil. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
6. Cooper, Mechele (23 May 2010). "Mainer joins elite crew of Medal for Valor recipient". Kennebec Journal. Maine Today Media Inc. Archived from the original on 26 May 2010. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
7. "Office of the Secretary of Defense Honorary Awards Guide" (doc). Labor and Management Employee Relations Division Human Resources Directorate. October 2008. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
8. "Medal of Valor Awards". C-SPAN.org.
9. "VALOR UNDER FIRE BRITISH CIVILIAN AWARDED US BRAVERY MEDAL". Coalition Provisional Authority. 29 April 2004. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
10. "Press Advisory: Pentagon Police Dedicate Roll Call Room To Fallen Officer". United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on April 9, 2025. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
11. "WP Resident Receives Highest Civilian Award for Valor". ThePilot.com. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
12. "Civilian contractors, former Soldiers receive Medal of Valor for actions in Afghanistan". www.army.mil. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
13. "CACI Professionals Supporting U.S. Military OperationsAwarded Medal for Valor" . Retrieved 14 November 2018.
14. "DoD Awards Medal for Valor to Two CACI Employees; Ken Asbury Quoted - GovCon Wire". 28 August 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
15. "CACI Professionals Supporting U.S. Military Operations Awarded Medal for Valor" (Press release). 14 August 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
16. Sisk, Richard (14 August 2018). "Three DoD Contractors Get Highest Civilian Valor Award for Afghan Actions" . Retrieved 14 November 2018.
17. "Secretary Carter to Present Medals to French Train Attack Heroes". U.S. Department of Defense. 2015-09-17.