The 2019 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.
Juan A. Hinojosa
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Laredo, Texas
For extraordinary valor and selflessness, saving three lives by swimming to save a drowning woman, and returning to the water to successfully save two others.
Duane Tedesco
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Plattsburg, New York
For amazing valor and resolute courage in skillfully flying and crash landing his CBP plane that was experiencing engine failure, where he incurred a major eye injury, but his partner escaped with minor injury, thus saving both their lives.