Dwight D. Eisenhower Award
The Dwight D. Eisenhower Award is NDIA's most prestigious Award and is accompanied by the Eisenhower Medal. The Award is named in honor of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and serves to recognize his support for and contribution to a strong national security and robust defense industrial base. The Eisenhower Award and Medal recognize leadership and strategic impact at the highest levels of National Security. The Eisenhower Award is bestowed annually on an individual who best reflects President Eisenhower's beliefs and support for a strong national security and industrial base. The awardees will meet the following criteria:
- U.S. Citizen
- Strategic impact and leadership at the National level
- A leader in support of the military services and other security-related agencies
- An active supporter of the defense industrial base and its programs
- A leader in defining and addressing industrial base and national security issues
NDIA and its predecessor organizations (ADPA & NSIA) have given annual Awards since 1979—the Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for ADPA and the James Forrestal Memorial Award for NSIA. Beginning in 1994, the annual Award was rotated between the Eisenhower Award and the Forrestal Award. After the merger of ADPA and NSIA, and beginning in 2005, the NDIA Board mandated that the Eisenhower Award and Medal would be given on an annual basis at the NDIA Award Dinner in Washington D.C., and the Forrestal Award and Medal would replace the Defense Industry Leadership Award and be given annually at the Army Executive Seminar in Atlanta, Georgia. This decision perpetuates the legacies of these two great individuals and preserves both Awards.
If you have questions on submitting nominations, please contact Liza Jones, ljones@ndia.org or call (703) 247-2560.
The Dwight D. Eisenhower Award Recipient for 2017 was William “Mac” Thornberry.
| Past Eisenhower Awardees |
|
| 2016 Trace Adkins | 1996 Mr. Daniel M. Tellep* |
| 2015 Hon. Leon Panetta | 1995 General Gordon R. Sullivan, USA |
| 2014 Mr. Gary Sinise | 1994 Dr. William J. Perry * |
| 2013 Hon. Ashton B. Carter | 1993 Congressman John P. Murtha |
| 2012 Hon. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon |
1993 President George H. W. Bush * |
| 2011 Senator Christopher S. "Kit" Bond | 1992 Hon. Dick Cheney |
| 2010 General James T. Conway, USMC | 1991 General Colin Powell, USA |
| 2009 General David H. Petraeus, USA | 1990 Admiral William J. Crowe, Jr., USN |
| 2008 Admiral Thad W. Allen, USCG | 1989 Senator Sam Nunn |
| 2007 Congressman Norman D. Dicks | 1988 Ambassador Vernon A. Walters |
| 2006 Hon. Gordon England | 1987 Hon. Caspar W. Weinberger |
| 2005 General Richard B. Myers, USAF | 1986 Mr. Ross Perot |
| 2004 Congressman Ike Skelton * | 1985 Senator Barry Goldwater |
| 2003 General James L. Jones, USMC | 1984 Ambassador Jeanne J. Kirkpatrick |
| 2002 Senator Daniel K. Inouye * | 1983 Senator John G. Tower |
| 2001 General Joseph W. Ralston, USAF | 1982 Congressman William L. Dickinson |
| 2000 Senator John Warner * | 1981 Governor William P. Clements |
| 1999 Congressman C. W. (Bill) Young | 1980 Mr. Bob Hope |
| 1998 Senator Ted Stevens * | 1979 Senator John C. Stennis |
| 1997 Dr. William J. Perry | |