The Guardian Medal or Department of Transportation Guardian Medal is an award of the

United States Department of Transportation The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT or DOT) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government. It is headed by the secretary of transportation, who reports directly to the President of the United States a ...

which was established by

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 wh ...

Norman Y. Mineta Norman Yoshio Mineta ( ja, 峯田良雄, November 12, 1931 – May 3, 2022) was an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, Mineta served in the United States Cabinet for Presidents Bill Clinton, a Democrat, and George W. Bush, a R ...

following the terrorist attacks on

September 11, 2001 The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commerc ...

Criteria

The Guardian Medal was awarded to senior government officials who, through visionary leadership, redirected the focus and resources of their organization, or major entities within their organization, and whose efforts had a profound impact in their field, the Federal Government, or on the public in providing for the protection and security of the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

and its citizens. To justify this

decoration Decoration may refer to: * Decorative arts * A house painter and decorator's craft * An act or object intended to increase the beauty of a person, room, etc. * An award that is a token of recognition to the recipient intended for wearing Other ...

, nominations must have demonstrated exceptional performance of duty while in a position of great responsibility, clearly above that normally expected, which has contributed materially to the betterment of the United States. The Secretary of Transportation presented this award to those persons in national level positions of great responsibility. New recommendations for the Department of Transportation Guardian Medal are not authorized.

Medal

The medal hangs from a striped ribbon. On each edge is a thick band of paprika through which runs a thin line of black. These are followed by two smaller white stripes. The center stripe is a wide blue band through which runs two parallel paprika stripes. The front face of the medal depicts, from the waist up, a colonial

minuteman Minutemen were members of the organized New England colonial militia companies trained in weaponry, tactics, and military strategies during the American Revolutionary War. They were known for being ready at a minute's notice, hence the name. Mi ...

holding a flag. He rises from the center of a scroll that says "Bello vel pace paratus". The medal's face is surrounded by a slightly raised rim which identifies the origin of the medal; "Department of Transportation", arched over the top, is separated by five stars on each side from the words "United States of America". A laurel wreath decorates the rear of the medal. This also has a raised rim, which reads, "For service to the U.S. Department of Transportation in guarding the interests of the American public". The words on both sides of the medal are presented in capital letters.

References

{{Reflist Military awards and decorations of the United States Awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard Awards established in 2001 United States Department of Transportation

Criteria

Medal

See also

References