The Secretary of Defense of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal to Admiral James Oren Ellis, Jr., United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service contributing to national security and defense, in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States, as Commander, United States Strategic Command, from November 2001 to July 2004. During his tenure, Admiral Ellis’ determination and visionary leadership were instrumental in redefining and operationalizing the roles, responsibilities, and missions of United States Strategic Command. During this critical time in America’s history, Admiral Ellis ensured the Nation’s nuclear arsenal remained secure and credible while simultaneously implementing the sweeping changes directed by the 2001 Nuclear Posture Review, offering national leadership, unprecedented speed, flexibility and selection of strategic nuclear, conventional, and non-kinetic options. Fully implementing the most significant changes to the Unified Command Plan in decades, Admiral Ellis successfully led the efforts to combine the missions of the former United States Strategic and Space Commands, while adding four previously unassigned missions: Global Strike; Department of Defense Information Operations Integration; Global Missile Defense Integration; and Global Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance. To operationalize these missions in such a short time, Admiral Ellis conceived and directed a new, functionally centered headquarters structure, and developed new relationships with the Services, combatant commanders, combat support agencies and the Department of State. Admiral Ellis led the Command throughout its significant contributions to the successes of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM and the Global War on Terrorism in general, integrating unprecedented global federated intelligence, space support, and information capabilities to produce thousands of tailored mission products and effects essential to victory. Admiral Ellis’ accomplishments have greatly advanced the President’s vision to form a “new architecture of American defense for decades to come.” The distinctive accomplishments of Admiral Ellis culminate a long and distinguished career in the service of his country and reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Navy, and the Department of Defense.