National Security Medal

The National Security Medal is a decoration of the United States of America officially established by President Harry S. Truman in Executive Order 10431 of January 19, 1953. The medal was originally awarded to any person, without regard to nationality, for distinguished achievement or outstanding contribution on or after July 26, 1947, in the field of intelligence relating to the national security of the United States.^[1]

National Security Medal
National Security Medal
Type	Individual Award
Status	Active
Last awarded	December 23, 2020
National Security Ribbon
Precedence
Equivalent	National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal

On October 2, 2015, President Barack Obama amended Executive Order 10431 to award the medal to any person for distinguished achievement or outstanding contribution made in the field of national security through either exceptionally meritorious service performed in a position of high responsibility or through an act of heroism requiring personal courage of a high degree.^[2] Two additional sections were added to the original order. Any individual may recommend a potential recipient as a candidate for the award to the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council. If the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council determines that the medal is warranted and following approval by the President, the Executive Secretary shall notify the Office of the Director of National Intelligence who will then process the award recommendation, prepare the medal and deliver it to the National Security Council for presentation to the recipient.

The National Security Medal is authorized to both civilians and personnel of the United States military and is an authorized decoration for display on active duty uniforms of the United States armed forces. In such cases, the National Security Medal is worn after all U.S. military personal decorations and unit awards and before any military campaign/service awards and foreign decorations.

Additional decorations of the National Security Medal are denoted by a bronze oak leaf cluster.^{[citation needed]}

Notable recipients

• Avi Berkowitz^[3]
• William Joseph Donovan
• Allen Dulles
• David M. Friedman^[3]
• William F. Friedman
• Robert Gates
• Richard Grenell
• Michael Hayden^[4]
• Richard Helms
• J. Edgar Hoover^[5]
• Clarence Leonard Johnson^[6]
• Jared Kushner^[3]
• Edward Lansdale^[7]
• John McCone^{[citation needed]}
• Steven Mnuchin^[3]
• Robert O'Brien^[3]
• Mike Pompeo^[3]
• John Rakolta^[3]
• John Scott Redd^[8]
• Kermit Roosevelt Jr.^[9]
• Frank Rowlett^[10]
• Wendy Sherman^[11]
• Walter Bedell Smith^[12]
• William O. Studeman^[13]
• William H. Webster

See also

• Awards and decorations of the United States government

References

1. 32 C.F.R. § 578.16, 2003
2. "Executive Order: National Security Medal". whitehouse.gov. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-08 – via National Archives.
3. "Trump gives awards to top aides for Arab-Israeli deals". Reuters. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
4. Paul Bedard (January 16, 2009). "CIA's Hayden, Kappes Receive National Security Medal From Bush". US News. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
5. "FBI — the Hoover Legacy, Part 4: The Evolution of U.S. Intelligence". Archived from the original on 2016-06-09. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
6. Lockheed's Aviation Genius — Central Intelligence Agency. Cia.gov. Retrieved on 2010-12-30.
7. Prados, John (2006). Safe for Democracy: The Secret Wars of the CIA. Ivan R. Dee. p. 144. ISBN 9781615780112.
8. – National Security Medal Awarded to Former NCTC Director. nctc.gov. Retrieved on 2011-5-23.
9. Kinkead, Gwen (2011). "Kermit Roosevelt". Harvard Magazine.
10. "Lyndon B. Johnson: Citation Accompanying the National Security Medal Presented to Frank Byron Rowlett". www.presidency.ucsb.edu.
11. . Sanford School of Public Policy. Retrieved on 2016-02-03.
12. In Memoriam. General Walter Bedell Smith. 5 October 1895 – 9 August 1961., Central Intelligence Agency, archived from the original on January 10, 2008, retrieved 31 August 2010
13. Former DDCI Admiral Studeman Feted at Retirement Ceremony — Central Intelligence Agency. Cia.gov. Retrieved on 2010-12-30.