An official website of the United States Government 
Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Photos

Snapshots of what’s happening in the Defense Department.

Two men dressed in civilian attire are hugging while a woman dressed in hijab and a man wearing civilian attire watch. In the background there are flags, including the American flag.

Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom

Mohannad Ali, left, receives a hug from his friend, Michael Moreno, following an Aug. 26, 2025, ceremony in San Diego, while Ali's mother, Kifah Mohammed, and his brother, Ali Ali, look on. During the ceremony, Mohannad Ali was presented with the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom, stemming from his actions after being injured while serving as a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' contractor in 2010 in Iraq.

Photo Gallery