WASHINGTON (Army News Service, July 20, 2015) – Defense Secretary Ash Carter presented the Joint Meritorious Unit Award to the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, or JIEDDO, now the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Agency, or JIDA, at the Pentagon, July 16.
“You are founders and pioneers in the things that you’ve done for the department,” Carter said. “You made rapid acquisition what it is today. We recognize your contributions and applaud the great things you’ve done to make a difference against IEDs [improvised explosive devices].”
Flanked by members of the unit, Carter presented the award to JIDA’s director, Lt. Gen. John D. Johnson, during the ceremony, which was also attended by the department’s defense acquisition executive, Frank Kendall. The award recognizes JIEDDO for its efforts in mitigating the IED-threat during 2006-2012 in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn. The citation said the efforts of the organization have directly assisted U.S. and coalition forces.
Johnson credited a greater team for the work done to deserve the award.
“This award represents the teamwork between JIEDDO, the services, OSD [Office of the Secretary of Defense], and the commanders and troops in the field,” he said. “This was a true team effort. JIDA will dedicate itself to meeting warfighters’ urgent needs through even greater collaboration in the future.”
At the end of the ceremony, Johnson presented Carter with the last official JIEDDO-branded coin to signify the legacy of the old organization and the establishment of JIDA.
JIEDDO was established in 2006 to counter the emerging threats presented by IEDs. In March, the department announced JIEDDO’s transition from a wartime activity to a defense agency under the authority, direction, and control of the office of the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics. As a new defense agency, JIDA will continue sustainment efforts to enable the defeat of improvised threats globally, and to further enable U.S. forces’ preparation to counter such threats when they arise.
Any military member assigned to JIEDDO from 2006 through 2012 is authorized to wear this Joint Meritorious Unit Award.