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The Secretary's Valor Award 2016
The Secretary’s Award for Valor is the highest departmental recognition for extraordinary acts of valor by an employee, occurring while on or off duty. The award is only to be given in extraordinary circumstances to those who have demonstrated extraordinary courage in a highly dangerous, life-threatening situation or emergency under extreme stress and involving a specific act of valor, such as saving another person’s life or property. Both civilian and military employees of the Department are eligible for this award.
This year's winners are listed below, along with a description of their contributions and achievements:
Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas presented the Secretary's Award for Valor to Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert B. Granger, U.S. Coast Guard, for extraordinary heroism in response to a sinking vessel which directly resulted in the saving of 12 lives, during the Secretary's Award Ceremony held Oct. 26, 2016. The Secretary's Award for Valor is the highest departmental recognition for extraordinary acts of valor by an employee, occurring while on or off duty. The award is only to be given in extraordinary circumstances to those who have demonstrated extraordinary courage in a highly dangerous, life-threatening situation or emergency under extreme stress and involving a specific act of valor, such as saving another person's life or property. Both civilian and military employees of the Department are eligible for this award. Official DHS photo by Barry Bahler. (DHS Photo by Barry Bahler/Released)
For extraordinary heroism in response to a sinking vessel which directly resulted in the saving of 12 lives.
Robert B. Granger, USCG Miami, FL
Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas presented the Secretary's Award for Valor to Petty Officer 2nd Class Richard A. Steidell, U.S. Coast Guard, for remarkable judgement in apprehending an armed suicidal individual without loss of life or damage to USCG assets and others, during the Secretary's Award Ceremony held Oct. 26, 2016. The Secretary's Award for Valor is the highest departmental recognition for extraordinary acts of valor by an employee, occurring while on or off duty. The award is only to be given in extraordinary circumstances to those who have demonstrated extraordinary courage in a highly dangerous, life-threatening situation or emergency under extreme stress and involving a specific act of valor, such as saving another person's life or property. Both civilian and military employees of the Department are eligible for this award. Official DHS photo by Barry Bahler. (DHS Photo by Barry Bahler/Released)
For remarkable judgment in apprehending an armed suicidal individual without loss of life or damage to USCG assets and others.
Richard A. Steidell, USCG Islamorada, FL
Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas presented the Secretary's Award for Valor to Gloria L. Betts, U.S. Coast Guard, for remarkable courage in assisting local law enforcement and safeguarding civilians during an armed attack on a Florida State trooper, during the Secretary's Award Ceremony held Oct. 26, 2016. The Secretary's Award for Valor is the highest departmental recognition for extraordinary acts of valor by an employee, occurring while on or off duty. The award is only to be given in extraordinary circumstances to those who have demonstrated extraordinary courage in a highly dangerous, life-threatening situation or emergency under extreme stress and involving a specific act of valor, such as saving another person's life or property. Both civilian and military employees of the Department are eligible for this award. Official DHS photo by Barry Bahler. (DHS Photo by Barry Bahler/Released)
For remarkable courage in assisting local law enforcement and safeguarding civilians during an armed attack on a Florida State trooper.
Gloria L. Betts, USCG Jacksonville, FL
Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas presented the Secretary's Award for Valor to members of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Agents Tad A. Freesmeier, Manuel Dorado, and Nicholas Koahou for extraordinary response in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attack on the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California, during the Secretary's Award Ceremony held Oct. 26, 2016. The Secretary's Award for Valor is the highest departmental recognition for extraordinary acts of valor by an employee, occurring while on or off duty. The award is only to be given in extraordinary circumstances to those who have demonstrated extraordinary courage in a highly dangerous, life-threatening situation or emergency under extreme stress and involving a specific act of valor, such as saving another person's life or property. Both civilian and military employees of the Department are eligible for this award. Official DHS photo by Barry Bahler. (DHS Photo by Barry Bahler/Released)
For extraordinary response in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attack on the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California.
Homeland Security Investigations, San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA
Tad A. Freesmeier, ICE Manuel Dorado, ICE Nicholas Koahou, ICE
Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas presented the Secretary's Award for Valor to the U.S. Secret Service agents White House Team Kevin D. Moloney, Joshua L. Johnson, and Matthew R. Williams for extraordinary service in preventing an armed gunman from breaching the White House perimeter May 20, 2016, during the Secretary's Award Ceremony held Oct. 26, 2016. The Secretary's Award for Valor is the highest departmental recognition for extraordinary acts of valor by an employee, occurring while on or off duty. The award is only to be given in extraordinary circumstances to those who have demonstrated extraordinary courage in a highly dangerous, life-threatening situation or emergency under extreme stress and involving a specific act of valor, such as saving another person's life or property. Both civilian and military employees of the Department are eligible for this award. Official DHS photo by Barry Bahler. (DHS Photo by Barry Bahler/Released)
For extraordinary service in preventing an armed gunman from breaching the White House perimeter.
May 20, 2016 White House Team Washington, DC
Kevin D. Moloney, USSS Joshua L. Johnson, USSS Matthew R. Williams, USSS
Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas presented the Secretary's Award for Valor to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Zone 1 River Team Phillippe Morgue and Nathan Kimball for For selfless courage in attempting to rescue a woman and her 2-year old child from drowning. Sadly the woman and her child did not survive, during the Secretary's Award Ceremony held Oct. 26, 2016. The Secretary's Award for Valor is the highest departmental recognition for extraordinary acts of valor by an employee, occurring while on or off duty. The award is only to be given in extraordinary circumstances to those who have demonstrated extraordinary courage in a highly dangerous, life-threatening situation or emergency under extreme stress and involving a specific act of valor, such as saving another person's life or property. Both civilian and military employees of the Department are eligible for this award. Official DHS photo by Barry Bahler. (DHS Photo by Barry Bahler/Released)
For selfless courage in attempting to rescue a woman and her 2-year old child from drowning. Sadly the woman and her child did not survive.
Zone 1 River Team Yuma, AZ
Phillippe Gorgue, CBP Nathan Kimball, CBP
Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas presented the Secretary's Award for Valor to U.S. Customs and Border Protection San Diego Marine Unit officers Christopher Hunter, Craig Jenkins, and Arian Linscott, for selfless courage in rescuing 20 people from the water after a smuggling vessel capsized, during the Secretary's Award Ceremony held Oct. 26, 2016. The Secretary's Award for Valor is the highest departmental recognition for extraordinary acts of valor by an employee, occurring while on or off duty. The award is only to be given in extraordinary circumstances to those who have demonstrated extraordinary courage in a highly dangerous, life-threatening situation or emergency under extreme stress and involving a specific act of valor, such as saving another person's life or property. Both civilian and military employees of the Department are eligible for this award. Official DHS photo by Barry Bahler. (DHS Photo by Barry Bahler/Released)
For selfless courage in rescuing 20 people from the water after a smuggling vessel capsized.
San Diego Marine Unit San Diego, CA
Christopher Hunter, CBP Craig Jenkins, CBP Arian Linscott, CBP
