Lieberman gets national intelligence medal for extraordinary service

Lieberman, Clapper at award ceremony

The nation’s chief intelligence officer bestowed retiring chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) with the intelligence community’s highest recognition for those who are not part of the community.

At a Dec. 11 ceremony in the Senate committee’s hearing room, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said Lieberman was awarded the National Intelligence Distinguished Public Service Medal for his “extraordinary service to the nation” and for being “a steadfast ally of the intelligence community.”

“It is no exaggeration for me to say that the nation is more secure because of his leadership, interest, and support for the intelligence community,” Clapper said. “He is the epitome of an independent thinker and a problem solver.”

Lieberman was instrumental in passage of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, based on recommendations from the 9/11 Commission that created Clapper’s office. The 9/11 Commission had concluded the intelligence community didn’t connect the bits of information about the planned 9/11 terror attacks because of poor communications between agencies. To address that deficiency and improve coordination, the legislation established the Director of National Intelligence position to oversee the activities of 16 intelligence agencies scattered throughout the federal government and the National Counterterrorism Center as an intelligence clearinghouse.

 Past recipients of the award include Senators Jay Rockefeller, (D-WV), and John Warner, (R-VA).

The award certificate reads in part: “Senator Lieberman has been a steadfast ally of the Intelligence Community during his 24 years of service in the United State Senate. His years of public service and unwavering support for the men and women of the Intelligence Community is matched only by his dedication to its critical mission. Through his leadership as Chairman and Ranking Member if the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and service on the Senate Committee on Armed Service, Senator Lieberman played a prominent role in the passage of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorist Prevention Act of 2004, which established the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.”