In 1998, Captain John Brasel of the New York Commandery of the Naval Order of the United States proposed that the Order give an annual award "to recognize the exemplary service of a senior flag officer of one of the maritime services, who is finishing a continuous career of active service." The award is always made in a formal ceremony, preferably during the Naval Order's annual congress. Admiral William J. Crowe, Jr., was the first recipient in 1990.^[1]

• 1990 Admiral William J. Crowe, Jr., USN (Ret.)
• 1991 General Alfred M. Gray, Jr., USMC (Ret.)
• 1992 Admiral Paul A. Yost, Jr., USCG (Ret.)
• 1993 Admiral Carlisle A.H. Trost, USN (Ret.)
• 1994 Vice Admiral John H. Fetterman, Jr., USN (Ret.)
• 1995 Admiral David E. Jeremiah, USN (Ret.)
• 1996 General Walter E. Boomer, USMC (Ret.)
• 1997 Admiral Stanley R. Arthur, USN (Ret.)
• 1998 Admiral Leighton W. Smith, USN (Ret.)
• 1999 Admiral Robert E. Kramek, USCG (Ret.)
• 2000 Admiral Joseph W. Prueher, USN (Ret.)
• 2001 General Anthony C. Zinni, USMC (Ret.)
• 2002 Admiral Archie Clemins, USN (Ret.)
• 2003 Admiral James Loy, USCG (Ret.)
• 2004 Admiral Robert J. Natter, USN (Ret.)
• 2005 Admiral James O. Ellis, USN (Ret.)
• 2006 Admiral Vern Clark, USN (Ret.)
• 2007 Admiral Thomas Fargo, USN (Ret.)
• 2008 General James L. Jones, USMC (Ret.)
• 2009 Admiral William J. Fallon, USN (Ret.)
• 2010 General Peter Pace, USMC (Ret.)
• 2011 Admiral Thad W. Allen, USCG (Ret.)
• 2012 Admiral Michael Mullen, USN (Ret.)
• 2013 Admiral Timothy J. Keating, USN (Ret.)
• 2014 General James Mattis, USMC (Ret.)
• 2015 MCPON Rick West, USN (Ret.)
• 2015 Admiral James G. Stavridis, USN (Ret.)
• 2016 SMMC Micheal Barrett, USMC (Ret.)
• 2016 Admiral Robert J. Papp Jr., USCG (Ret.)
• 2017 MCPOCG Michael P. Leavitt, USCG (Ret.)
• 2017 Admiral Jonathan Greenert, USN (Ret.)