Distinguished Eagle Scout Award

The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award (DESA) is a prestigious honor from the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), recognizing Eagle Scouts with national-level achievements and strong community service. Recipients must hold Eagle Scout rank for 25 years, undergo nomination, and gain approval from the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA).

Award Design
The gold eagle medallion hangs from a red, white, and blue neck ribbon, resembling the Eagle Scout medal. Recipients may wear a small gold eagle device on their Scout uniform and receive a bronze plaque with an eagle and citation.

History
Established in 1969, the DESA replaced a gold Eagle Scout badge, awarded once in 1922. The first ten DESAs were approved in 1969, with Alden G. Barber listed first alphabetically. Since 2022, selections are announced annually in a “Class of (year)” format.

Three Medal of Honor (MoH) recipients were also awarded the DESA, while others were not eligible due to different reasons.