ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 14085Executive OrderBiden · D

Executive Order 14085

Expanding Eligibility for Certain Military Decorations and Awards

This executive order updates multiple military decoration and award programs to include the newly established Space Force, replace gendered language with gender-neutral terms, and modernize statutory references. It amends six prior executive orders covering the Air Medal, Good Conduct Medal, unit citations, Bronze Star Medal, and delegation authorities for military decorations.

Federal Register Open PDF 87 FR 60541

Impact dates

  1. Air Medal regulations to be made uniform 'so far as practicable' across military departments

Key directives

  • Amend EO 9158 (Air Medal): expand eligibility to Space Force, replace 'Army and Navy' with 'Armed Forces', replace gendered language, add Secretary of Defense approval requirement for uniform regulations
  • Amend EO 8809 (Good Conduct Medal): make Space Force eligible retroactive to December 20, 2019
  • Amend EO 10694 (unit citations): make Space Force eligible retroactive to December 20, 2019
  • Amend EO 11046 (Bronze Star Medal): expand eligibility to Space Force, update 'Transportation' to 'Homeland Security', replace gendered language
  • Amend EO 13830 (delegation authority): update statutory citations, expand to Space Force, replace gendered language throughout
  • Amend EO 11545 (Defense Distinguished Service Medal): expand from 'military officer' to 'member of the Armed Forces', replace gendered language

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • EO takes effect upon signing; Space Force members become eligible for specified decorations retroactive to December 20, 2019

Near term (90d)

  • Military departments to update uniform regulations for Air Medal as practicable
  • Secretary of Defense to approve Air Medal design changes

Long term

  • Ongoing administration of expanded eligibility for decorations and awards

Risks & tensions

  • Retroactive eligibility to December 20, 2019 may create administrative backlog for claims and awards
  • 'So far as practicable' language for uniform regulations is vague and leaves implementation timing discretionary
  • No specific deadline for Secretary of Defense design approval for Air Medal appurtenances
  • Statutory citation updates in EO 13830 assume correctness of new references; no verification mechanism stated
Executive Order 14085: Expanding Eligibility for Certain Military Decorations and Awards · Executive Orders