Secretary's 2016 Award for Valor Awarded to Gloria L. Betts
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Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas presented the Secretary's Award for Valor to Gloria L. Betts, U.S. Coast Guard, for remarkable courage in assisting local law enforcement and safeguarding civilians during an armed attack on a Florida State trooper, during the Secretary's Award Ceremony held Oct. 26, 2016. The Secretary's Award for Valor is the highest departmental recognition for extraordinary acts of valor by an employee, occurring while on or off duty. The award is only to be given in extraordinary circumstances to those who have demonstrated extraordinary courage in a highly dangerous, life-threatening situation or emergency under extreme stress and involving a specific act of valor, such as saving another person's life or property. Both civilian and military employees of the Department are eligible for this award. Official DHS photo by Barry Bahler/Released.