Editing Commendation Medal (section)

===Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard===
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[[File:David Miller receives Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal from Cedric Pringle 2019 (46819211525).jpg|thumb|A sailor receives a certificate of the award from Rear Admiral [[Cedric Pringle]] in 2019.]]
After [[World War I]], the [[United States Department of the Navy|Department of the Navy]] authorized the [[Navy Commendation Star]], a ribbon device to be placed on the [[World War I Victory Medal (United States)|World War I Victory Medal]]. The {{frac|3|16}} inch silver star was identical to the Army [[Citation Star]], but not comparable, as the latter recognized "gallantry in action", while the Navy Commendation Star denoted those who had been cited and commended for performance of duty by the [[United States Secretary of the Navy|Secretary of the Navy]].

An independent '''Navy Commendation Ribbon''' was established in November 1943.  On March 22, 1950, a metal pendant (of the same design as the pendant of the Army Commendation Medal) was authorized and the Commendation Ribbon was renamed the Navy Commendation Ribbon with Metal Pendant.  This award was re-designated as the Navy Commendation Medal in September 1960, and renamed the '''Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal''' in 1994. This decoration was previously awarded only by flag rank operational commanders, requiring the signature of an admiral or general officer in the grade of [[U.S. uniformed services pay grades#Officer pay grades|O-7]], allowing interpretation of the criteria for which the medal may be awarded.  Authority to award this decoration was later expanded to captains and colonels in the grade of [[U.S. uniformed services pay grades#Officer pay grades|O-6]] currently holding operational command as a [[Commodore (United States)|commodore]], carrier air wing commander or commanding officer.

Recipient members of the [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]] have always been issued the Navy's commendation medal and there is not a separate commendation medal intended only for Marines.  This lack of difference was recognized on August 19, 1994, when [[Secretary of the Navy]] [[John Howard Dalton]] changed the name of the Navy Commendation Medal to the '''Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal'''.<ref>[https://doni.daps.dla.mil/Directives/01000%20Military%20Personnel%20Support/01-600%20Performance%20and%20Discipline%20Programs/1650.1H.PDF  SECNAVINST 1650.1H 2006 2-31] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915130413/http://doni.daps.dla.mil/Directives/01000%20Military%20Personnel%20Support/01-600%20Performance%20and%20Discipline%20Programs/1650.1H.PDF |date=September 15, 2012 }}</ref>

The [[United States Coast Guard|U.S. Coast Guard]] awards a separate '''Coast Guard Commendation Medal''', with a ribbon similar in design to that of its Navy and Marine Corps counterpart.  Initially established as the Coast Guard Commendation Ribbon in 1947, it was redesignated as the Coast Guard Commendation Medal in 1959.  Criteria for its award has paralleled that of the Navy and Marine Corps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxfall.com/fmd-uscg-cgcm.htm|title=Coast Guard Commendation Medal|work=foxfall.com|access-date=October 4, 2011|archive-date=March 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303005931/http://foxfall.com/fmd-uscg-cgcm.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

;Devices
* [[5/16 inch star|{{frac|5|16}} inch star]], [[Combat "V"]], and [[Operational Distinguishing Device]] (Coast Guard) 

==== Notable recipients ====
* [[Richard Nixon]]: US President<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/biographies-list/bios-n/nixon-richard.html |title=Richard Milhous Nixon: 9 January 1913–22 April 1994|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=February 18, 2015 |website=Naval History and Heritage Command |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=October 1, 2022}}</ref>