The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral Earle Watkins Mills, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Engineering Assistant to the head of the Design Division in the consolidated Bureaus of Engineering and Construction and Repair from September 1939 to November 1942 and as Assistant Chief of Bureau of Ships from November 1942 to November 1945. Admiral Mills was responsible for engineering and electrical plans of all major fleet units designed since 1939. He supervised the development of the adapted designs and provided for the fleet electrical and engineering installations which were reliable and highly resistant to enemy damage or excessive operation.