Country United States Status Currently awarded | Type Medal (Decoration) Established 1949 | |
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Awarded for Distinguished performance characterized by extraordinary, noble, or prestigious contributions that impact the mission of the Department of Commerce and/or one or more of its operating units, which reflects favorably on the department. Next (higher) Defense Distinguished Service Medal | ||
The Department of Commerce Gold Medal is the highest honor award of the United States Department of Commerce. Since 1949, the Gold Medal is presented by the Secretary of Commerce for distinguished performance. The award may be presented to an individual, group, or organization in the Commerce Department for extraordinary, noble, or prestigious contributions that impact the mission of the department and/or one or more operating units, which reflects favorable on the department.
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The annual Department of Commerce Gold Medal Awards ceremony is held each fall at the Ronald Reagan Amphitheater in Washington, D.C.. An Individual and members of a group which is awarded the Gold Medal Award are each presented a framed certificate signed by the Secretary and medal. An organization receiving the award is presented one framed certificate signed by the Secretary and medal.
Award criteria
The Gold Medal Award is awarded for distinguished performance characterized by extraordinary, noble, or prestigious contributions that impact the mission of the Department of Commerce and/or one or more of its operating units, which reflects favorably on the department.
To warrant a Gold Medal, a contribution must focus on qualitative and quantitative performance measures reflected in the Department of Commerce's strategic plan and be identified in one of the following areas:
NOAA Corps Recipients
The NOAA Corps is eligible to send an overall total of 20 Gold and Silver nominations to the Department of Commerce per year.The Gold Medal is awarded to an individual, group, or Commerce organization for extraordinary achievements in support of the critical objectives of the Department of Commerce with a significant beneficial effect on the Nation or world.
To warrant the award of the Gold Medal, a contribution to the Commerce Department must meet at least one of the following criteria:
The NOAA awardees of the Gold Medal Award are presented a medallion by the Commerce Department and the NOAA Commissioned Corps awardees are presented a full sized military style medal, miniature medal, and a full and miniature size service ribbon provided from the Commissioned Personnel Center. Group or organizational recipients of the Gold Medal are authorized to wear a silver 1⁄8 inch "O" device on the full size medal's suspension ribbon and service ribbon. Each additional award of the Gold Medal is denoted by a 5⁄16 inch gold star for the full size medal suspension ribbon and service ribbon and a 1⁄8 inch gold star for the miniature medal suspension ribbon.
Individual and group members also receive a framed certificate signed by the Secretary of Commerce. Members of an organization awarded the Gold Medal each receive the award and the organization receives one framed certificate signed by the Secretary to represent the entire organization.