Award History

The Hispanic Advisory Committee to then DEA Administrator Thomas A. Constantine suggested the establishment of an award to honor the “thousands of men and women sworn to enforce the drug laws of the United States who deserve the full benefit of our recognition of the inherent dangers of our profession”. As a result, the DEA Purple Heart Award was established on January 5, 1996 to honor those individuals who have been seriously wounded or killed while performing duties in an official capacity. The DEA Special Agent badge is embossed on a purple background and placed on a heart-shaped pendant which hangs from a red, white, and blue ribbon.

Purple Heart Award

DEA’s Purple Heart Award

Eligibility

Employees meeting all of the following criteria are entitled to receive the DEA Purple Heart Award:

  • Those individuals seriously injured or killed during the performance of duties in an official capacity;
  • Whose injuries or death are the direct results of hostile or criminal action;
  • Whose injuries require medical treatment or cause death;
  • Any active, retired, or deceased employee of the Drug Enforcement Administration, or its predecessor agencies to include the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, or the Bureau of Drug Abuse Control.

Recipients

  • A-E
    • Special Agent G. Douglas Althouse
      Special Agent G. Douglas Althouse

      May 28, 1992

    • Criminal Investigator Joseph T. Aversa
      Criminal Investigator Joseph T. Aversa

      March 5, 1990

    • Special Agent Robert J. Baggs
      Special Agent Robert J. Baggs

      April 17, 1984

    • Task Force Officer Jay Balchunas
      Task Force Officer Jay Balchunas

      November 5, 2004

    • Special Agent Emir Benitez
      Special Agent Emir Benitez

      August 9, 1973

    • Special Agent Gerald E. Bishop
      Special Agent Gerald E. Bishop

      June 12, 1973

    • Special Agent Samuel L. Blackburn
      Special Agent Samuel L. Blackburn

      November 30, 1977

    • Special Agent Dennis J. Branen
      Special Agent Dennis J. Branen

      November 12, 1987

    • Special Agent Ronald Brogan
      Special Agent Ronald Brogan

      May 31, 1989

    • Special Agent Mark J. Bumar
      Special Agent Mark J. Bumar

      June 29, 1977

    • Group Supervisor Thomas J. Byrne
      Group Supervisor Thomas J. Byrne

      August 30, 2008

    • Special Agent Enrique S. Camarena
      Special Agent Enrique S. Camarena

      February 7, 1985

    • Special Agent Robert E. Canales
      Special Agent Robert E. Canales

      July 22, 1971

    • Special Agent Everton A. Campbell
      Special Agent Everton A. Campbell

      June 1, 1989

    • Task Force Officer Andrew G. Cloke
      Task Force Officer Andrew G. Cloke

      April 18, 1973

    • Special Agent Victor Cortez, Jr.
      Special Agent Victor Cortez, Jr.

      August 13, 1986

    • Special Agent Thomas J. Devine
      Special Agent Thomas J. Devine

      October 12, 1972

    • Special Agent Salvador A. DiJamco
      Special Agent Salvador A. DiJamco

      April 10, 1979

    • Special Agent Richard M. Dobrich
      Special Agent Richard M. Dobrich

      February 12, 2010

    • Special Agent Michael J. Dugan
      Special Agent Michael J. Dugan

      August 28, 1991

    • Special Agent Bill H. Everett
      Special Agent Bill H. Everett

      May 5, 1963

  • F-J
    • Special Agent Richard E. Fass
      Special Agent Richard E. Fass

      June 30, 1994

    • Office Assistant Carol J. Fields
      Office Assistant Carol J. Fields

      April 19, 1995

    • Special Agent Gregory M. Gassett
      Special Agent Gregory M. Gassett

      November 7, 1986

    • Special Agent John P. Gilbride
      Special Agent John P. Gilbride

      October 19, 1988

    • Country Attaché Octavio Gonzalez
      Country Attaché Octavio Gonzalez

      December 13, 1976

    • Special Agent Carliese Gordon
      Special Agent Carliese Gordon

      August 27, 1981

    • Special Agent Ronald Gospodarek
      Special Agent Ronald Gospodarek

      August 4, 1971

    • Investigator Leslie S. Grosso
      Investigator Leslie S. Grosso

      May 21, 1974

    • Special Agent Rogelio E. Guevara
      Special Agent Rogelio E. Guevara

      March 6, 1974

    • Group Supervisor John Bret Hamilton
      Group Supervisor John Bret Hamilton

      June 6, 2011

    • Special Agent Kevin Harrison
      Special Agent Kevin Harrison

      August 1, 1990

    • Special Agent Everett E. Hatcher
      Special Agent Everett E. Hatcher

      February 28, 1989

    • Special Agent Richard Heath, Jr.
      Special Agent Richard Heath, Jr.

      April 1, 1973

    • Special Agent Edward A. Heath
      Special Agent Edward A. Heath

      October 19, 1970

    • FBI Special Agent Samuel S. Hicks
      FBI Special Agent Samuel S. Hicks

      November 19, 2008

    • Task Force Agent Joseph R. Hoing
      Task Force Agent Joseph R. Hoing

      September 17, 1996

    • Special Agent Hawthorne L. Hope, Jr.
      Special Agent Hawthorne L. Hope, Jr.

      September 24, 1990

    • Police Investigator Wallie Howard, Jr.
      Police Investigator Wallie Howard, Jr.

      October 30, 1990

    • Special Agent James A. Juliano
      Special Agent James A. Juliano

      May 29, 1974

  • K-O
    • Special Agent Gary C. Lawrence
      Special Agent Gary C. Lawrence

      June 25, 2010

    • Special Agent Forrest Leamon
      Special Agent Forrest Leamon

      October 26, 2009

    • Special Agent James C. Lewis
      Special Agent James C. Lewis

      November 24, 1974

    • BNDD Agent Ralph B. Lochridge
      BNDD Agent Ralph B. Lochridge

      July 21, 1971

    • Special Agent Burton E. Lund, Jr.
      Special Agent Burton E. Lund, Jr.

      February 12, 1971

    • Supervisory Special Agent Frank L. Macolini
      Supervisory Special Agent Frank L. Macolini

      June 8, 1970

    • Special Agent Charles L. Martinez
      Special Agent Charles L. Martinez

      February 10, 1982

    • Special Agent Vincent J. Mazzilli
      Special Agent Vincent J. Mazzilli

      July 10, 1979

    • Special Agent Gerard P. McAleer
      Special Agent Gerard P. McAleer

      May 8, 1973

    • Special Agent Kelly D. McCullough
      Special Agent Kelly D. McCullough

      February 10, 1982

    • Special Agent Kenneth G. McCullough
      Special Agent Kenneth G. McCullough

      April 19, 1995

    • Special Agent Kenneth R. McCreary
      Special Agent Kenneth R. McCreary

      January 28, 1986

    • Group Supervisor Patrick J. McDarby
      Group Supervisor Patrick J. McDarby

      October 26, 2009

    • Special Agent Billie S. Meadows
      Special Agent Billie S. Meadows

      July 17, 1996

    • Task Force Agent Debi Medina
      Task Force Agent Debi Medina

      December 12, 2000

    • Special Agent G. Ernest Mertens
      Special Agent G. Ernest Mertens

      October 17, 1970

    • Special Agent Chad Michael
      Special Agent Chad Michael

      October 26, 2009

    • Special Agent Bill E. Modesitt
      Special Agent Bill E. Modesitt

      April 21, 1981

    • Special Agent George M. Montoya
      Special Agent George M. Montoya

      February 5, 1988

  • P-T
    • Special Agent Alfred Paris
      Special Agent Alfred Paris

      February 23, 2001

    • Special Agent Robert J. Palombo
      Special Agent Robert J. Palombo

      October 19, 1971

    • Special Agent Joseph Piersante
      Special Agent Joseph Piersante

      October 31, 2011

    • Special Agent Frank A. Quintal
      Special Agent Frank A. Quintal

      December 19, 1975

    • Special Agent William Ramos
      Special Agent William Ramos

      December 31, 1986

    • Special Agent Jerry N. Rice
      Special Agent Jerry N. Rice

      July 29, 1969

    • Diversion Secretary Betty J. Robins
      Diversion Secretary Betty J. Robins

      April 19, 1995

    • Special Agent David K. Schickedanz
      Special Agent David K. Schickedanz

      April 19, 1995

    • Special Agent Paul S. Seema
      Special Agent Paul S. Seema

      February 5, 1988

    • Special Agent Clarence Blair Shuler
      Special Agent Clarence Blair Shuler

      March 8, 1991

    • Narcotic Agent Phillip R. Smith
      Narcotic Agent Phillip R. Smith

      September 28, 1954

    • Diversion Investigator Donetta M. Spears
      Diversion Investigator Donetta M. Spears

      April 19, 1995

    • Special Agent Raymond Stastny
      Special Agent Raymond Stastny

      January 20, 1987

    • Special Agent Kevin K. Stephens
      Special Agent Kevin K. Stephens

      July 14, 1989

    • Special Agent Wayne C. Steadman
      Special Agent Wayne C. Steadman

      February 26, 1976

    • Group Supervisor Roy Stevenson
      Group Supervisor Roy Stevenson

      June 9, 1975

    • Special Agent Henry P. Stewart
      Special Agent Henry P. Stewart

      February 8, 1975

    • Special Agent Charles Story
      Special Agent Charles Story

      July 10, 1979

    • Special Agent David Surh
      Special Agent David Surh

      April 22, 1987

    • Special Agent Robert L. Surovec
      Special Agent Robert L. Surovec

      August 23, 1974

    • Special Agent John T. Schwartz
      Special Agent John T. Schwartz

      October 26, 2001

    • Special Agent Wallace Tanaka
      Special Agent Wallace Tanaka

      April 10, 1979

    • Special Agent Bruce W. Travers
      Special Agent Bruce W. Travers

      September 6, 1988

    • Special Agent Frank Tummillo
      Special Agent Frank Tummillo

      October 12, 1972

  • U-Z
    • Special Agent Gustavo T. Vazquez
      Special Agent Gustavo T. Vazquez

      May 31, 1971

    • Special Agent Robert C. Wadman
      Special Agent Robert C. Wadman

      August 28, 1973

    • Special Agent Donald C. Ware
      Special Agent Donald C. Ware

      June 9, 1975

    • Special Agent Lonny G. Watson
      Special Agent Lonny G. Watson

      May 30, 1988

    • Special Agent Michael Weston
      Special Agent Michael Weston

      October 26, 2009

    • Special Agent Craig M. Wiles
      Special Agent Craig M. Wiles

      July 27, 1996

    • Narcotic Agent James T. Williams
      Narcotic Agent James T. Williams

      October 16, 1924

    • Special Agent Arthur C. Wilson
      BNDD Agent Arthur C. Wilson

      July 21, 1971

    • Special Agent Adolphus P. Wright
      Special Agent Adolphus P. Wright

      January 21, 1987

    • Special Agent Ronald S. Wright
      Special Agent Ronald S. Wright

      September 17, 1987