Under the provisions of Department of Defense 1348.33-M, the Secretary of Defense has awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Defense Superior Service Medal to Lieutenant General Michael David Maples, United States Army, for exceptionally superior service to the Department of Defense as Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Department of the Army, Director of Operations Readiness and Mobilization from 2000 to 2001. The distinctive accomplishments of Lieutenant General Maples reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Army, and the Department of Defense.