The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Commander Joseph S. Stoutenburgh, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States during the period July 1957 to October 1962 as Assistant Tactical Data System Project Officer, Bureau of Ships. During this period Commander Stoutenburgh contributed outstanding direction and engineering skill in the design of programs and equipments in the complex Naval Tactical Data System. His contributions have resulted in advanced concepts in system design and equipment reliability.