The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Vice Admiral Edward Lull Cochrane, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States during duty in the Design Division of the Bureau of Ships from 7 December 1941 to 2 November 1942, and as Chief of Bureau of Ships from 23 November 1942 to 31 August 1945. Admiral Cochrane achieved distinctive success in his skilled direction of the design and construction of a vast number of vessels, many of new and revolutionary types, during a period of critical urgency.