Secretary of the Army John McHugh awards the new Under Secretary of the Army Brad R. Carson with the Decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service for "extraordinary contributions to the United States Army while serving as Army General Counsel from December 2011 through March 2014" at the Pentagon, Arlington, VA, on April 4, 2014. The citation went on to read "During this period, Mr. Carson led a team of legal experts who produced thousands of well-written and cogent legal opinions related to personnel, acquisition, environmental, civil works and fiscal policies that generated many tangible Departmentwide results. He helped shape policy on some of the most controversial issues Army leaders confronted, including benefits for same-sex partners, religious accommodation, uniform standards, force shaping and sequestration. He skillfully oversaw efforts to improve background checks for childcare workers and contractors, and clarified the Department's authority to settle claims. Mr. Carson's efforts directly contributed to a stronger, more resilient Army and are a great credit to him, the Army Secretariat and the Department of the Army." (U.S. Army photo by Spc. John G. Martinez)