Department of Commerce Bronze Medal

The Department of Commerce Bronze Medal is the third of three honor awards of the United States Department of Commerce. Since 1949, the Bronze Medal is the highest award presented by the head or secretarial officer of an operating unit of the Department of Commerce such as the NOAA, NIST, NWS, etc. for superior performance.[2] The award may be presented to an individual, group (or team), or organization for outstanding or significant contributions which have increased the efficiency and effectiveness of the operating unit of the Department of Commerce.[5]

Department of Commerce Bronze Medal
Obverse of the Commerce Bronze Medal
Awarded by the US Department of Commerce
Country United States
TypeMedal (Decoration)
Awarded forSuperior service characterized by outstanding or significant contributions to the Department of Commerce.[1]
StatusCurrently awarded
Statistics
Established1949[2]
NOAA Corps awards
Order of precedence
Next (higher)Department of Commerce Silver Medal[3]
Next (lower)NOAA Corps Meritorious Service Medal[4]

Bronze Medal service ribbon

Bronze Medal service ribbon with "O" (Organization) device

The annual operating unit Bronze Medal Awards ceremony in the Washington D.C. area is scheduled by the operating unit sometime after the annual Department of Commerce Gold and Silver Medal Awards ceremony.[6] An Individual and members of a group (or team) which is awarded the Bronze Medal Award are each presented a framed certificate and medal. An organization receiving the award is presented one framed certificate and medal.[7]

Award criteria

The bureaus of the Department of Commerce are prohibited from automatically granting a Bronze Medal to an individual, group (or team), or organization not recommended for a Gold or Silver Medal.[8]

The Bronze Medal Award ceremony must be held following the Secretary of Commerce Honor Awards ceremony to ensure that nominees not approved for Gold or Silver Medals have the opportunity to be fully considered for a Bronze Medal.[9]

To warrant a Bronze 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:[10]

  • Leadership
  • Personal and professional excellence
  • Scientific/engineering achievement
  • Organizational development
  • Customer service
  • Administrative/technical support or
  • Heroism

NOAA Corps recipients

The Bronze Medal program is managed by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with oversight by the Department of Commerce.[11]

The Bronze Medal is the highest honorary award of the NOAA presented by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. The award is given to an individual or group for significant contributions to the NOAA.[3] Bronze Medals are automatically awarded at the NOAA level to individuals and groups that were submitted but not approved for a Department of Commerce Gold Medal or Silver Medal unless the nominating line of staff office chooses to withdraw the nomination.[12]

Contributions must meet one or more of the following criteria:[3]

  • Accomplishment of improvements in management systems that are more effective or more efficient;
  • Demonstration of unusual or creative ability in the development and improvement of methods and procedures;
  • Significant contribution affecting major programs or a scientific accomplishment or;
  • Superior accomplishment of assigned tasks for at least five consecutive years.

NOAA awardees of the Bronze Medal Award are presented a medallion and 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.[3] Group or organizational recipients of the medal are authorized to wear a silver ​1⁄8 inch "O" device on the full size medal's suspension ribbon and service ribbon.[3] Each additional award of the Bronze 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.[3]

Individual and group members also receive a personalized engraved plaque signed by the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere. Members of an organization awarded the Bronze Medal each receive the award and the organization receives one engraved plaque to represent the entire organization. [11][13]

Notable recipients
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References
  1. US Department of Commerce Performance Management Handbook (Recognition Section) Chapter 10, Honor Awards Retrieved February 7, 2015
  2. "Honor Awards Program - OHRM". Hr.commerce.gov. 2008-05-01. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  3. "NOAA Corps Directives Part 7 – Awards Chapter 12 Attachment 2" (PDF). NOAA Corps Commissioned Personnel Center website. Retrieved 2 July 2012. External link in |work= (help)
  4. "Department of Commerce and NOAA Award Ribbons". NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. Archived from the original on 20 February 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  5. US Department of Commerce Performance Management Handbook (Recognition Section) Chapter 10, Honor Awards Retrieved February 7, 2015
  6. US Department of Commerce Performance Management Handbook (Recognition section) Chapter 10, Honor Awards
  7. US Department of Commerce Performance Management Handbook (Recognition Section), Appendix H, Honor Awards - Types of Awards and Recognition Retrieved February 7, 2015
  8. US Department of Commerce Performance Management Handbook (Recognition Section) Chapter 10, Honor Awards Retrieved February 7, 2015
  9. US Department of Commerce Performance Management Handbook (Recognition Section) Chapter 10, Honor Awards, Bronze Medals, Award Presentation Retrieved February 11, 2015
  10. US Department of Commerce Performance Management Handbook (Recognition Section) Appendix G, Honor Awards Criteria, Bronze Medal Retrieved February 7, 2015
  11. "NOAA Incentive Awards Program Handbook" (PDF). NOAA. 20 March 2009. p. 4. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  12. "NOAA Incentive Awards Program Handbook" (PDF). NOAA. 20 March 2009. p. 3&5. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  13. "NOAA Workforce Management Office". Wfm.noaa.gov. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
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