Intelligence Medal of Merit

The Intelligence Medal of Merit is awarded by the Central Intelligence Agency for performance of especially meritorious service or for achievement conspicuously above normal duties.^[1]

Intelligence Medal of Merit
Awarded for	"the performance of especially meritorious service or for an act or achievement conspicuously above normal duties which has contributed significantly to the mission of the Agency."
Country	United States of America
Presented by	Central Intelligence Agency
Eligibility	Employees of the Central Intelligence Agency
Precedence
Next (higher)	Intelligence Star
Next (lower)	Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal

Notable recipients

• Gust Avrakotos
• I. Nathan Briggs^[2]
• George W. Cave^[3]
• John Chambers (1923–2001) Hollywood make-up artist involved in Canadian Caper during 1979 Iran hostage crisis^[4] (aka Jerome Calloway^[5])
• Charles Cogan^[6]
• Gene A. Coyle^[7]
• Peter Earnest^[8]
• Richard G. Fecteau^[9]
• Robert Gates^[10]
• Gina Haspel^[11]
• John J. Hicks, former director of National Photographic Interpretation Center; for his work during the Cuban Missile Crisis.^[12]
• J.B.E. Hittle
• Stephen Kasarda^[13]
• Mark Kelton, former deputy director of the National Clandestine Service for Counterintelligence^[14]
• George V. Lauder^[15]
• Harry E. Mason
• Edmund H. Nowinski (twice)^[16]
• James Olson^[17]
• Jerrold Post^[18]
• Robert Schaller^[19]
• James D. Skinner
• Frank Snepp
• John Stockwell
• Elizabeth Sudmeier^[20]
• David O. Sullivan^[21]
• Al Ulmer
• Charles Wilson, first non-Agency Officer to be awarded the Medal

See also

• Awards and decorations of the United States government

References

1. "Medals of the CIA – Central Intelligence Agency". Cia.gov. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
2. Article title ^{[bare URL PDF]}
3. Milton Hershey School. "Cave Named Alumnus of the Year". www.miltonhersheyschool.org. Milton Hershey School. Archived from the original on July 6, 2001. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
4. Patrick Hruby (October 10, 2012). "Tony Mendez, clandestine CIA hero of Ben Affleck's 'Argo,' reveals the real story behind film smash". The Washington Times. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
5. "A Classic Case of Deception – Central Intelligence Agency". Cia.gov. Archived from the original on June 13, 2007. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
6. Immerman, Richard H. (2006). The Central Intelligence Agency: Security Under Scrutiny. Greenwood Publishing. ISBN 9780313332821.
7. Coyle, Gene. "Spy v. Spy" (PDF). Indiana Alumni Magazine (May/June 2008): 34–38. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 27, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
8. Smith, Harrison (15 February 2022). "Peter Earnest, CIA veteran who helped launch International Spy Museum, dies at 88". Washington Post. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
9. "Two CIA Prisoners in China, 1952–73 – Central Intelligence Agency". Cia.gov. Archived from the original on June 13, 2007. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
10. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (September 16, 1991). Nomination of Robert M. Gates to be Director of Central Intelligence (PDF). Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. p. 14. S. HRG. 102-799 VOL. 1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
11. "Gina Haspel – Central Intelligence Agency". Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on March 14, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
12. "Historical Handbook of NGA Leaders" (PDF). Federation of American Scientists. Office of Corporate Communications. April 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
13. "Excerpts of D/CIA Hayden's Memorial Ceremony Remarks – Central Intelligence Agency". Cia.gov. Archived from the original on January 9, 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
14. "Mark Kelton, MA". Daniel Morgan Academy. Archived from the original on May 20, 2017. Kelton has more than fifteen years of overseas service, to include four Chief of Station assignments. He also served as the Associate Deputy Director of the Clandestine Service for Technology where he was responsible for the selection, testing and deployment of all technology used by the Clandestine Service in pursuit of its clandestine mission; the Deputy Chief of East Asia Division, Directorate of Operations where he assisted in the direction of all CIA intelligence operations, activities and programs in East Asia, to include engagement with foreign partners; the Chief of Operations, Central Eurasia Division, Directorate of Operations where he assisted in the direction of all CIA operations, activities and programs in Eastern Europe and Eurasia; and as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director for Operations. He is the recipient of numerous awards and commendations, including the CIA Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the Director of National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, the CIA Director's Award, the CIA Intelligence Medal of Merit, the William J. Donovan Award (twice), the CIA Exceptional Human Intelligence Collector Award, and the Intelligence Community Seal Medallion.
15. "AFIO Weekly Intelligence Notes #31-12". www.afio.org. AFIO. August 14, 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2020. He received the CIA's Distinguished Intelligence Medal, Medal of Merit, and other awards of distinction.
16. Laurie, Clayton D. (May 1, 2002). "Leaders of the National Reconnaissance Office 1961-2001" (PDF). National Reconnaissance Office. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
17. "James Olson".
18. "Harry e. Mason". Paducah Sun. 22 July 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
19. Carol Smit (March 25, 2007). "Spy Robert Schaller's life of secrecy, betrayal and regrets". seattlepi.com. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
20. "Challenging the Status Quo: Elizabeth Sudmeier's Historic Legacy - CIA". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
21. Boorstein, Michelle (August 18, 2012). "David O. Sullivan, CIA officer". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 15, 2012.