The President may award a distinguished-service medal of appropriate design and a ribbon, together with a rosette or other device to be worn in place thereof, to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Air Force or the Space Force, distinguishes himself by exceptionally meritorious service to the United States in a duty of great responsibility.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 540, §8743; renumbered §9273, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §806(b)(11), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1833; amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, §923(c)(12)(A)(iii), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3811.)