The Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award is the second highest career award presented by the Department of Defense.

It is presented for exceptionally noteworthy service of major significance to the Department of Defense as a whole.

[1] Candidates for this award are Department of Defense or other government agency employees who have rendered exceptionally meritorious service of major significance to the Department of Defense.

Heads of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Components and Secretaries of Military Departments submit nominations to the Assistant Director for Labor and Management Employee Relations, Directorate for Personnel and Security, Washington Headquarters Services.

[2] Recipients of the award receive a medal set, a certificate signed by the Secretary of Defense and citation.