Under the provisions of Department of Defense 1348.33-M, the Secretary of Defense of the United States of America takes pleasure in awarding the Defense Superior Service Medal to Colonel (Field Artillery) Joseph Carter Lucas, United States Army, for exceptionally superior service to the Department of Defense with Headquarters, U.S. Southern Command, from 1983 to 1987. The distinctive accomplishments of Colonel (Field Artillery) Lucas reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Army, and the Department of Defense.