However, although the Coast and Geodetic Survey traced its history to 1807, it had no awards of its own until 21 July 1945, when President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9590, authorizing six awards in recognition of Coast and Geodetic Survey service during World War II, the national emergency preceding it, or its aftermath:[1][2][3][4] The Coast and Geodetic Survey Defense Service Ribbon was one of the six awards.

[1] For budgetary reasons, Executive Order 9590 established the award as a ribbon only, but it also authorized the United States Secretary of Commerce to "provide and issue an appropriate medal, with suitable appurtenances, to the recipient of any ribbon at such time as he may determine, and when necessary funds are available therefore.

"[1][4][5] However, it was not until the United States Congress passed the Merchant Marine Decorations and Medals Act in 1988 that the Coast and Geodetic Survey's successor organization, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), took action to create a medal for the award.

[5] Any commissioned officer of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps and any ship's officer or member of the crew of any Coast and Geodetic Survey ship who served under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Secretary of Commerce at any time during the period beginning 8 September 1939 and ending 6 December 1941 was eligible for the Coast and Geodetic Survey Defense Service Medal.

The ribbon consists of a broad yellow band edged with three 1⁄32-inch (0.79 mm) stripes of (from interior to exterior) blue, white, and scarlet.