The DEA Purple Heart Award

The DEA Purple Heart Award was established on January 5, 1996, to honor those individuals who have been seriously wounded or killed while performing duties in an official capacity. The prestigious award reflects DEA’s recognition of the inherent dangers thousands of men and women face every day while enforcing the drug laws of the United States. Recipients receive a heart-shaped medal with a DEA Special Agent badge embossed on a purple background hanging from a red, white, and blue ribbon.

Those who meet the following criteria are entitled to receive the DEA Purple Heart Award:

  • Individuals seriously injured or killed due to hostile or criminal action during official duties

  • Injuries must require medical treatment or cause death

  • Eligible recipients include active, retired, or deceased employees of the DEA and its predecessor agencies, including the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, or the Bureau of Drug Abuse Control
Frank Fernandez

Frank Fernandez Jr.

Special Agent
August 27, 1994

Carrol J. Fields

Carrol J. Fields

Office Assistant
April 19, 1995

Joseph W. Floyd

Joseph W. Floyd

Federal Prohibition Agent, U.S. Department of Treasury
May 17, 1922

Steven Fox

Steven Fox

Special Agent
Date unknown

Michael G. Garbo

Michael G. Garbo

Group Supervisor
October 4, 2021

Gregory M. Gassett

Gregory M. Gassett

Special Agent
November 7, 1986

Purple Heart

Toryalay Ghafar

Afghan Officer, National Interdiction Unit
Date unknown

John P. Gilbride

John P. Gilbride

Special Agent
October 19, 1988

Octavio Gonzalez

Octavio Gonzalez

Country Attache
December 13, 1976

Purple Heart

Charliese Gordon

Special Agent
August 27, 1981

Ronald Gospodarek

Ronald Gospodarek

Special Agent
August 4, 1971

Leslie S. Grosso

Leslie S. Grosso

Investigator
May 21, 1974