The Department of the Army Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service is the highest award that may be bestowed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Army to Army civilian employees. The medal was approved by the War Department

United States Department of War

The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...

 29 December 1945. This award consists of a gold medal, lapel button and certificate. A ribbon bar

Ribbon bar

Ribbon bars are small decorations that are worn by military, police, and fire service personnel or by civilians. Ribbon bars are mainly used when wearing either full decoration, or when wearing medals is considered inappropriate or impractical. Each military force has its own rules on what ribbons...

 and miniature medal is also available for private purchase.

Criteria

Eligibility is determined by measuring contributions against the following example levels of achievement:

• Accomplising assigned duties of major program significance to the Department of the Army in such a way as to have been clearly exceptional or preeminent among all persons who have performed similar duties.
• Developed and improved major methods and procedures, developed significant inventions, or was responsible for exceptional achievements that effected large-scale savings or were of major significance in advancing the missions of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, and the Federal Government.
• Provided outstanding leadership to the administration of major Army programs resulting in highly successful mission accomplishment or in the major redirection of objectives or accomplishments to meet unique or emergency situations.
• Exhibited great courage and voluntary risk of life in performing an act resulting in direct benefit to the Government or its personnel.

Description

The medal of the award is a gold disc, 38 mm in diameter. On the obverse in the center is a bald eagle similar to the Great Seal of the United States

Great Seal of the United States

The Great Seal of the United States is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the United States federal government. The phrase is used both for the physical seal itself , and more generally for the design impressed upon it...

. The reverse of the medal is inscribed "FOR DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY EXCEPTIONAL CIVILIAN SERVICE--TO." The edge on both sides is surrounded by a laurel wreath. The medal is suspended from an ultramarine blue ribbon 35 mm in width with three thin white skip stripes in the center of the ribbon.