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 Hyman G. Rickover, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Manager, Naval Reactors, Division of Reactor Development, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, and as Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Ships for Nuclear Propulsion from January 1961 to January 1964. During this period, Vice Admiral Rickover exercised dynamic leadership and outstanding professional competence in assuring the continuing contributions of a major element in our national capability to deter aggression. He skillfully directed the efforts of his staff toward the cooperative development of the POLARIS weapons system to its present advanced state, with 16 POLARIS submarines now in active service and 25 more under construction. In addition, during this period, the nuclear-powered surface ships, ENTERPRISE, LONG BEACH, and BAINBRIDGE, joined the Fleet. These ships, each of a different combatant type, are establishing high standards for the new fleet of combatant surface ships to follow. Under Vice Admiral Rickover’s leadership, the cost of U.S. naval nuclear propulsion plants has been lowered, reactor core life has been increased, and significant improvements in simplicity and dependability have been achieved. His contributions in the field of civilian reactors have been important factors in the continued development of these units.