Department of Commerce Bronze Medal

Department of Commerce Bronze Medal
Obverse of the Commerce Bronze Medal
Awarded by the US Department of Commerce
Country	United States
Type	Medal (Decoration)
Awarded for	Superior service characterized by outstanding or significant contributions to the Department of Commerce.
Status	Currently awarded
Statistics
Established	1949
NOAA Corps awards Order of precedence
Next (higher)	Department of Commerce Silver Medal
Next (lower)	NOAA Corps Meritorious Service Medal
Bronze Medal service ribbon

The Department of Commerce Bronze Medal is the third of three honor awards of the United States Department of Commerce. Since 1949, the Bronze Medal is the highest award presented by the head or secretarial officer of an operating unit of the Department of Commerce such as the NOAA, NIST, NWS, etc. for superior performance. The award may be presented to an individual, group (or team), or organization for outstanding or significant contributions which have increased the efficiency and effectiveness of the operating unit of the Department of Commerce.

The annual operating unit Bronze Medal Awards ceremony in the Washington D.C. area is scheduled by the operating unit sometime after the annual Department of Commerce Gold and Silver Medal Awards ceremony. An Individual and members of a group (or team) which is awarded the Bronze Medal Award are each presented a framed certificate and medal. An organization receiving the award is presented one framed certificate and medal.

The bureaus of the Department of Commerce are prohibited from automatically granting a Bronze Medal to an individual, group (or team), or organization not recommended for a Gold or Silver Medal.

The Bronze Medal Award ceremony must be held following the Secretary of Commerce Honor Awards ceremony to ensure that nominees not approved for Gold or Silver Medals have the opportunity to be fully considered for a Bronze Medal.

To warrant a Bronze Medal, a contribution must focus on qualitative and quantitative performance measures reflected in the Department of Commerce's strategic plan and be identified in one of the following areas:

The Bronze Medal program is managed by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with oversight by the Department of Commerce.

The Bronze Medal is the highest honorary award of the NOAA presented by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. The award is given to an individual or group for significant contributions to the NOAA. Bronze Medals are automatically awarded at the NOAA level to individuals and groups that were submitted but not approved for a Department of Commerce Gold Medal or Silver Medal unless the nominating line of staff office chooses to withdraw the nomination.