Nominate Officers for the Nation's Highest Award for Public Safety

The 2019-2020 Medal of Valor nomination period is now open.
Eligibility for the 2019-2020 Medal of Valor is limited to incidents that take place between June 1, 2019 and May 31, 2020.
The nomination submission period will close on July 31, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. (ET).

President and Attorney General Award the Medal of Valor

Read about the individuals whose brave actions were honored at the White House on May 22, 2019, when President Trump and Attorney General Barr awarded each with the Medal of Valor, the highest national award for valor by a public safety officer.

Medal of Valor Overview

Every day, public safety officers risk their lives to protect America’s citizens and communities. To honor that commitment, Congress passed The Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act of 2001, which created the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor, the highest national award for valor by a public safety officer. The medal is awarded annually by the President or Vice President to public safety officers who have exhibited exceptional courage, regardless of personal safety, in the attempt to save or protect human life.

Medal of Valor

A “public safety officer” is a person (living or deceased) who is serving or has served in a public agency, with or without compensation, as a firefighter; law enforcement officer, including a corrections, court, or civil defense officer; or emergency services officer, as determined by the U.S. Attorney General.

An act of valor is defined as:

  • Above and beyond the call of duty; and
  • Exhibiting
    • exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness and presence of mind.
    • unusual swiftness of action, regardless of his or her personal safety, in an attempt to save or protect human life.
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