The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Vice Admiral Edward William Clexton, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Chief of Naval Material from 1 February 1956 to 30 June 1960. Exercising sound professional judgment and dynamic leadership in administering the material program of the United States Navy, Vice Admiral Clexton has rendered distinguished service to the United States, adding significantly to our national defense posture. He has fostered the highest degree of cooperation with private industry, and has greatly improved the material effectiveness of the Navy in the areas of policy coordination and procurement, production, inspection, and supply management. He skillfully directed the planning and implementation of a consolidation of the Bureaus of Aeronautics and Ordnance into the Bureau of Naval Weapons within a remarkable short period of eight months.