Official website of the Department of Homeland Security
The Secretary’s Award for Valor 2017
The 2017 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.
Customs and Border Protection's Guatemala Advisors Team receive the the Secretary's Award for Valor at the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2017. The team was honored for assisting with the medical evacuation of 10 Guatemalan girls, who were severely injured in fires in March and April 2017, by helping them get emergency passports, and transported to receive specialized medical care and treatment, along with streamlining response to future national emergencies in Guatemala. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco. (DHS Photo by Jetta Disco/Released)
CBP Guatemala Advisors Team
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Myrna Irizarry
Manuel Levario
For remarkable service and humanity in facilitating the emergency evacuation of 10 Guatemalan burn victims, all young girls, to the United States for medical treatment. CBP is adopting these processes for future medical emergency evacuations.
Cmdr. Daniel Broadhurst, U.S. Coast Guard, receives the the Secretary's Award for Valor at the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2017. Broadhurst was honored for responding to a vehicle collision where he coordinated medical emergency response resulting in saving two lives and assisting 13 others. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco. (DHS Photo by Jetta Disco/Released)
Daniel J. Broadhurst
United States Coast Guard
Washington, D.C.
For courageously and selflessly responding, while off duty, to a horrible vehicle collision that left one person dead and 15 others injured.
The Federal Protective Service Defense Tactics Instructors Team receive the the Secretary's Award for Valor at the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2017. The team was honored for saving the life of a fellow instructor, who suffered from a medical emergency during training, by administering life saving measures, which saved the instructor's life. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco. (DHS Photo by Jetta Disco/Released)
FPS Defense Tactics Instructors Team - Region Three
National Protection and Programs Directorate
Arlington, Virginia
Jarrid Isaac-Wright
George H. Marggraff
Devin Cummins
Daniel McQueen
Trevor W. Erdmann
Jennings M. Davenport
Jason A. Gueringer
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
For quick and sustained action that saved the life of a fellow Instructor who suffered a heart attack.
The Federal Protective Service Region 10 Seattle Command receive the the Secretary's Award for Valor at the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2017. The command was honored for helping rescue injured Seattle Police Officers who were responding to a report of an armed gunman. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco. (DHS Photo by Jetta Disco/Released)
Federal Protective Service Region 10 Seattle Command Group
National Protection and Programs Directorate
Seattle, Washington
Darold D. Grant Jr.
Odell N. Mefford
Shaunn E. McClellan
Brian M. Desens
Joshua K. Wood
Sean S. McGregor
Carlos R. Cruz-Alfonso
Jeffrey Bungabong
For the rescue of three Seattle police officers.
ICE-HSI Miami Violent Gang Task Force
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Miami, Florida
Danny Moran
Kevin Selent
For selfless courage in rescuing two police detectives who were shot during a "Project New Dawn" gang surge enforcement operation.
Petty Officer 1st Class Mario Estevane, U.S. Coast Guard, receives the the Secretary's Award for Valor at the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2017. Estevane was honored for saving the life of an rock climber who sustained life-threatening injuries when he fell more than 50 feet from a cliff. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco. (DHS Photo by Jetta Disco/Released)
Mario Estevane
United States Coast Guard
San Diego, California
For extraordinary heroism while swimming in dangerous waters to rescue an injured rock climber who fell more than 50 feet from a cliff.
The U.S. Secret Service Presidential Protection Division, Peru Expedition Team receive the the Secretary's Award for Valor at the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2017. The team was honored for conducting a medical evacuation, while in Peru, of an officer bitten by a venomous snake, while continuing to provide security to their protectee. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco. (DHS Photo by Jetta Disco/Released)
Presidential Protection Division - Peru Expedition Team
United Stated Secret Service
Washington, D.C.
Lisa A. Irby
Christian K. Ebel-Orr
Stephen J. Kenny
Roberto M. Loaisiga
Demetrios P. Malamis
Jamie R. Marcella
Joshua J. McDowell
Ryan Y. Nordyke
Charles B. Owens
Georg A. Wagner
Christopher M. Watson
John M. Woodruff
For outstanding management of the medical evacuation of an officer after he was bitten by a venomous snake, while continuing to protect first daughter Malia Obama on her visit to the remote outskirts of the Amazon River Basin in Peru.
The Border Patrol Rio Grand Valley Sector Team receive the the Secretary's Award for Valor at the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2017. The team was honored for providing immediate medical assistance to a Texas State Trooper who was wounded by an armed subject they were pursuing. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco. (DHS Photo by Jetta Disco/Released)
Rio Grande Valley Sector
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Rio Grande, Texas
William Creighton
Faustino Ramos
For extraordinary courage in response to an active shooting that injured a state trooper in the Rio Grande Valley.
Timothy Sturgell, U.S. Secret Service receives the the Secretary's Award for Valor at the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2017. Sturgell was honored for saving the life of a West Point Cadet who nearly drowned. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco. (DHS Photo by Jetta Disco/Released)
Timothy S. Sturgell
United States Secret Service
Washington, D.C.
For selfless courage and decisive action that saved a West Point cadet from drowning.