ملف:David O. Cooke is awarded Distinguished Federal Civilian Service, January 1999.jpg

Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen (left) affixes the ribbon holding the President's Medal for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service around the neck of David O. Cooke, director of administration and management for the Department of Defense at the Pentagon. The award, the highest attainable for civilian federal service, was presented in recognition of exceptionally outstanding service to the nation throughout a distinguished career spanning more than 50 years. The citation accompanying the highest federal civilian service award stated that Cooke directly supported 12 secretaries of defense and managed the most complex administrative and management issues confronting the Pentagon. Cooke, known as "Doc" because of his initials, has long held the unofficial title of "Mayor of the Pentagon," because of his responsibility for all the various elements, such as security, maintenance, and operation of the city-like Pentagon on a daily basis.