The National Intelligence Medal for Valor, formerly the Intelligence Community Medal for Valor, is a decoration of the
United States Intelligence Community
United may refer to:
Places
* United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community
* United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community
Arts and entertainment Films
* ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film
* ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...
awarded by the National Intelligence Awards Program led by the
Office of the Director of National Intelligence
The director of national intelligence (DNI) is a senior, cabinet-level United States government official, required by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to serve as executive head of the United States Intelligence Comm ...
.
The Director of National Intelligence established the Intelligence Community Medal for Valor on 1 October 2008, to "acknowledge the exceptional and unrecognized accomplishments of members of the Intelligence Community."
In 2009, the award was renamed the National Intelligence Medal for Valor.
Criteria
The medal recognizes heroism and courage above and beyond the call of duty in service to the intelligence community or to overall national security. Second only to the
National Intelligence Cross it is the equivalent to the military
Silver Star. There are very few recipients of this prestigious medal. It is almost exclusively awarded posthumously. By nature this medal is associated with clandestine operation in hostile countries and the identities of living recipients are closely guarded secrets.
Recipients
The medal was first awarded on 14 November 2008, to Marine Corps Lance Corporal James E. Swain, who died 15 November 2004, of wounds received while serving as a Marine Corps intelligence analyst during the
Battle of Fallujah in Iraq.
The Swain Annex of the
Marine Corps Intelligence
Marine Corps Intelligence is an element of the United States Intelligence Community. The Director of Intelligence supervises the Intelligence Department of HQMC and is responsible for policy, plans, programming, budgets, and staff supervision o ...
Activity (MCIA) complex is named for LCpl Swain. Its first recipient under its new name was Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Steven P. Daugherty, sometime before 21 May 2009.
Defense Department officials have released the names of three other recipients, all of whom received their medals posthumously: Air Force 1st Lieutenant
Roslyn L. Schulte, who received it on 22 January 2010; Marine Sergeant Lucas T. Pyeatt, on 29 June 2011; and Marine Capt. Trevor J. Yurista, on 1 September 2011.
As of June 2011, the medal had also been awarded to six living recipients whose names have been kept secret, according to DoD officials.
Fallen Marine Honored With Intelligence Medal for Valor
Defense.gov, 29 June 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
See also
* Awards and decorations of the United States government
References
{{reflist
Valor, National Intelligence Medal for