The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal (CGDSM) is a
military decoration
Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. DoD Manual 1348.33, 2010, Vol. 3 A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a med ...
of the
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mu ...
that was established 4 August 1949 and is presented to coast guardsmen for "Exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility." Prior to this date, members of the Coast Guard were eligible to receive the
Navy Distinguished Service Medal. The
Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
The Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal is a military decoration of the Department of Homeland Security, which is presented to United States Armed Forces servicemembers for exceptionally meritorious service. The current version of the me ...
, which replaced the
Transportation Distinguished Service Medal
The Transportation Distinguished Service Medal was the highest decoration which could be bestowed by the Secretary of Transportation for exceptional service to the United States government in a position of great responsibility to a member of the ...
in 2002, is another higher precedence Distinguished Service Medal that may be awarded to Coast Guardsmen.
The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is equivalent to the Army's
Army Distinguished Service Medal
The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a military decoration of the United States Army that is presented to soldiers who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility. Th ...
, Navy and Marine Corps'
Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and the Air Force and Space Force's
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (AFDSM) is a military decoration of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force and is presented to airmen and guardians to recognize distinguished and exceptionally meritorious service to ...
.
Criteria
The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is awarded to any coast guardsman who distinguishes themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the
United States Government
The federal government of the United States (U.S. federal government or U.S. government) is the national government of the United States, a federal republic located primarily in North America, composed of 50 states, a city within a fede ...
in a duty of great responsibility. The medal may also be awarded to any member of the
uniformed services of the United States
The United States has eight federal uniformed services that commission officers as defined by Title 10 and subsequently structured and organized by Titles 10, 14, 32, 33 and 42 of the U.S. Code.
Uniformed services
The uniformed services ...
who distinguishes themselves while working with the U.S. Coast Guard. The exceptional performance of duty must be clearly above what is normally expected and must have contributed materially to the success of a major command or project. The decoration is typically awarded to senior flag officers, such as the Commandant of the Coast Guard. However, this does not preclude the award of the medal to any person who meets the eligibility requirements.
[
The bestowing authority of the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is the ]Secretary of Homeland Security
The United States secretary of homeland security is the head of the United States Department of Homeland Security, the federal department tasked with ensuring public safety in the United States. The secretary is a member of the Cabinet of the Un ...
. Prior to 2003, the award was authorized by the Secretary of Transportation
A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a w ...
, and prior to 1967, it was authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury
The United States secretary of the treasury is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, and is the chief financial officer of the federal government of the United States. The secretary of the treasury serves as the principal a ...
.
Devices
Additional awards of the CGDSM are denoted by inch gold stars.
Notable recipients
*Admiral Jonathan Greenert - Chief of Naval Operations
* Admiral Alfred C. Richmond, first recipient of the medal, 1961
*General Richard Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
*General Peter Pace
Peter Pace (born November 5, 1945) is a retired United States Marine Corps general who served as the 16th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Pace was the first Marine officer appointed as chairman and the first Marine officer to be appointed ...
, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 2005
*General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., Commander of Operation Desert Storm
Operation or Operations may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* ''Operation'' (game), a battery-operated board game that challenges dexterity
* Operation (music), a term used in musical set theory
* ''Operations'' (magazine), Multi-Ma ...
, 1991
*General Eric Shinseki
Eric Ken Shinseki (; born November 28, 1942) is a retired United States Army general who served as the seventh United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs (2009–2014). His final United States Army post was as the 34th Chief of Staff of the Arm ...
US Army Chief of Staff
*General Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell ( ; April 5, 1937 – October 18, 2021) was an American politician, statesman, diplomat, and United States Army officer who served as the 65th United States Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African ...
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
* Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Rick Trent, first enlisted recipient of the medal, 1998Frank A. Welch
Franklin A. Welch (born c. 1960) was the ninth Master Chief Petty Officer of the United States Coast Guard. Welch entered the Coast Guard in 1980 after graduating from Shades Valley High School Class of 1978, in Birmingham, Alabama. A former Mas ...
* Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Charles W. Bowen
* Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Michael P. Leavitt
Michael Phillip Leavitt (born Fruitland, Idaho, September 11, 1960) was the eleventh Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard (MCPOCG). He assumed the position from MCPOCG Charles W. Bowen on May 21, 2010 and was relieved on May 22, 2014, ...
See also
* Awards and decorations of the United States military
References
{{USCG decorations
Distinguished Service Medal
Awards established in 1949
*