Under the provisions of Executive Order 11545, July 9, 1970, the Secretary of Defense of the United States of America take pleasure in awarding the Defense Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant General Robert Edwin Pursley, United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service contributing to national security and defense, in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States, as Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, from 1966 to 1972. The distinctive accomplishments of General Pursley reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Air Force, and the Department of Defense.