The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Vice Admiral Vernon Long Lowrance (NSN: 0-63108/1100), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Deputy Director, Defense Intelligence Agency, from November 1966 through October 1969. During this period, Vice Admiral Lowrance displayed an extremely high degree of leadership and administrative ability in carrying out executive-level management for the planning, organization, and coordination of the operations of the Agency. Through his outstanding professional competence, he made significant contributions to policy formulation and decision-making at the highest level of the United States Government. Through his entire tenure, Vice Admiral Lowrance’s unusual capabilities and astute judgment singled him out as a constant source of advice on all intelligence matters and for assistance and guidance on matters of planning, organization, and administration. His efforts on behalf of the Defense Intelligence Agency, along with his sense of fairness and objectivity, have served to inspire others and have set the course for intelligence processing for many years to come. By his exceptional accomplishments and inspiring devotion to duty, Vice Admiral Lowrance rendered service of inestimable value to the Intelligence Community, to the Department of Defense, and to the Nation as a whole, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Vice Admiral Vernon Long Lowrance (NSN: 0-63108/1100), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, from 1 September 1964 to 19 November 1966. Vice Admiral Lowrance exercised military and operational command of the Submarine Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet during a period of unprecedented expansion in which the Atlantic Fleet Ballistic Missile Force alone increased from sixteen to twenty-nine submarines. In particular, he supervised the logistic support of this force, resulting in the achievement of an extremely high state of readiness marked by the completion of 188 deterrent patrols during his twenty-six months as Force Commander. Additionally, the nuclear and conventional attack submarine forces under his command completed a considerable number of missions of great importance to the United States. By virtue of his outstanding professional knowledge, Vice Admiral Lowrance ensured the completion of a most significant evaluation of the Navy’s newest submarine anti-submarine warfare weapons system. In carrying out the foregoing responsibilities as well as his additional North Atlantic Treaty Organization duties as Commander Submarine Allied Command Atlantic and as Commander Submarines Western Atlantic Area, he demonstrated the highest degree of judgment and an inspiring devotion to duty. By his valuable and distinguished service, he has contributed greatly to the overall readiness of the United States Atlantic Fleet, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.