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 Major General Ricky Lynch, United States Army, for exceptionally superior service to the Department of Defense as Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, Allied Forces Southern Europe, from 2003 to 2005. The distinctive accomplishments of Major General Lynch reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Army, and the Department of Defense.