page_title: President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service
hierarchical_section_title: President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service
caption_attribution_description: Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen (left) affixes the ribbon holding the President's Medal for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service around the neck of David O. Cooke, director of administration and management for the Department of Defense at the Pentagon. The award, the highest attainable for civilian federal service, was presented in recognition of exceptionally outstanding service to the nation throughout a distinguished career spanning more than 50 years. The citation accompanying the highest federal civilian service award stated that Cooke directly supported 12 secretaries of defense and managed the most complex administrative and management issues confronting the Pentagon. Cooke, known as "Doc" because of his initials, has long held the unofficial title of "Mayor of the Pentagon," because of his responsibility for all the various elements, such as security, maintenance, and operation of the city-like Pentagon on a daily basis.
context_page_description: Established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on 27 June 1957 by Executive Order 10717, the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service was created to allow the President to recognize civilian officers or employees of the federal government who have made contributions "so outstanding that the officer or employee is deserving of greater public recognition than that which can be accorded by the head of the department or agency in which he is employed."
  President John F. Kennedy in Executive Order 10979 directed that potential recipients of the award are recommended to the President by the Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Board, who also had responsibility for recommending people to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Executive Order 12014, by Jimmy Carter abolished the Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Board and turned over the responsibility for recommending recipients to the Chairman of the United States Civil Service Commission.
context_section_description: Established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on 27 June 1957 by Executive Order 10717, the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service was created to allow the President to recognize civilian officers or employees of the federal government who have made contributions "so outstanding that the officer or employee is deserving of greater public recognition than that which can be accorded by the head of the department or agency in which he is employed." 
  President John F. Kennedy in Executive Order 10979 directed that potential recipients of the award are recommended to the President by the Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Board, who also had responsibility for recommending people to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Executive Order 12014, by Jimmy Carter abolished the Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Board and turned over the responsibility for recommending recipients to the Chairman of the United States Civil Service Commission. This executive order was subsequently modified again by Jimmy Carter in Executive Order 12107 which named the Director of the Office of Personnel Management as the person responsible for making recommendations to the President.
  The President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service is the highest honorary award that the Federal Government can grant a career civilian employee. President Kennedy limited the award to only five people per year.
caption: The Distinguished Federal Civilian Service Medal being awarded to Pentagon administrator David O. Cooke.
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