"Under the provisions of Executive Order 11545, July 9, 1970, the Secretary of Defense of the United States of America take pleasure in awarding the Defense Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant General Samuel Vaughn Wilson (ASN: 0-36566), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious achievement while serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Intelligence) (Resources and Management) and then concurrently as Director, Defense Intelligence Agency, and Deputy Director of Defense Intelligence (Production, Plans and Operations) during the period March 1976 to January 1977. During this period he displayed superlative leadership qualities and professional competence of the highest order in the realignment of Department of Defense intelligence activities and planning, direction, and management of the Defense Intelligence Agency. As a member of the Defense Intelligence Board, he was instrumental in an active dialogue between Defense intelligence users and producers, insuring production of quality products responsive to user needs. To provide better focus on production and management activities, General Wilson carried out he most extensive reorganization of the Defense Intelligence Agency since its founding, initiating a complete manpower survey and a number of in-depth management improvement studies to achieve optimum use of diminishing resources. The singular distinctive achievements of General Wilson reflect the highest credit upon himself, the Department of Defense, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the United States Army."