Secretary of the Army Wilber M. Brucker established the Outstanding Civilian Service Award in January, 1959. In 2014, an overhaul of the naming system of the Department of the Army’s Public Service medals was implemented with a goal to make wording and nomenclature consistent between those medals and their military counterparts. As a result, the medal’s name was changed to the Meritorious Public Service Medal (MPSM). Previously, the award had consisted of a medal, lapel button, and a certificate; with the new designation, the award now includes a regular medal, miniature medal, service ribbon, lapel button, and certificate.
The MPSM is awarded by the Secretary of the Army or an ACOM commander to recognize outstanding service that makes a substantial contribution or is considered of significance to the ACOM. ACOM replaced the term MACOM, for Major Command, and stands for “Army Command.” Army Commands carry out Title 10 functions and include Army Forces Command, Army Training and Doctrine Command, and Army Materiel Command. Eligible recipients include civilians not employed by the Army or Army contractors, officials in the Federal Government at the policy development level, or personnel serving in the Army in an advisory capacity or as consultants.
In order to recognize achievements and contributions at various organizational levels, ACOM commanders may re-delegate approval authority for the MPSM to any commander in the rank of major general or above.