The 2018 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.
Brendan T. Kiley
United States Coast Guard
Buzzard Bay, Massachusetts
For serving as a helicopter Rescue Swimmer during the historic flooding by Hurricane Harvey in Houston, an unfamiliar urban area, saving 112 lives and assisting countless other persons.