The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal to Master Chief Port Security Specialist Jeffrey D. Smith, United States Coast Guard, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Force from 4 December 2003 to 15 May 2010. His vision, dedication to the workforce, and keen understanding of personnel policy provided tremendous benefit to Coast Guard men and women. Through his leadership and expansive knowledge of sustaining a Reserve Force, he championed a Commandant Intent Action Order leading to the creation of the Reserve Force Readiness System. One of the biggest reorganizations in the history of the Reserves, this new system modernized the Reserve support structure from the field level to Headquarters enabling the Force to meet increasing mission demands. He was one of the primary architects behind the Reserve Employment Working Group which identified critical capability gaps for the Reserve Force to execute its domestic and expeditionary rules. He was a member of the Senior Enlisted Advisory Council to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs providing counsel on legislative initiatives that supported all Reserve forces and ensured parity for Coast Guard members. Working with the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, he was a driving force behind several major initiatives. He helped create the Maritime Enforcement Specialist Rating as an active duty counterpart to the Port Security Specialist, increased Reserve attendance at the Chief Petty Officer Academy, and created the Direct Entry Petty Officer Training course to accelerate the contributions of new Reservists. A staunch advocate of our maritime heritage, he facilitated the memorial service of Chief Warrant Officer Bernard Webber who executed one of the most famous rescues in Coast Guard history. By raising awareness of this heroic act, the Coast Guard is naming the first cutter of the new Sentinel Class after this former enlisted hero. Master Chief Petty Officer Smith’s leadership, dedication, and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.