The award consists of a gold eagle suspended from a red, white, and blue ribbon worn around the neck.

[5] The DESA does not have a clear order of issue like the numbers assigned to each NOESA recipient, though the majority have a date of rank as a Distinguished Eagle recorded.

Of the 24 men who traveled to the Moon, three were Eagle Scouts: Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell, and Charles Duke.

Armstrong and Lovell are also among the recipients of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and both also received the Silver Buffalo Award.

A list of recipients is maintained by NESA, sorted by local BSA council, and may be found on their web page.