Order of Defense Merit

Established by Decree No. 4,263, of June 10, 2002, it aims to honor civilian and military personalities, Brazilian or foreign, who have rendered relevant services to the Brazilian Armed Forces, or who have distinguished themselves in the exercise of their professions, and, exceptionally, foreign military organizations and institutions, as well as foreign civil organizations, their banners or standards.
The insignia of the Order of Defense Merit has, on the obverse, the seal of the Republic, encircled by a green enamel ring, on which the words “MERIT OF DEFENSE” are engraved; on the reverse, in the inner circle, the words “BRAZIL” and “MINISTRY OF DEFENSE.”

The President of the Republic is the Grand Master of the Order and the Minister of Defense is the Chancellor.
The degrees of the Order are: Grand Cross — granted to the President and Vice President of the Republic, Ministers of State of Brazilian and foreign governments, President of the Superior Military Court, Ministers of State, Ambassadors and other personalities of equivalent hierarchy.

The Order consists of five degrees, which are granted in the following sequence:

• Grand Cross — Heads of State, reigning Princes of foreign houses, President of the Chamber of Deputies, President of the Federal Senate, President of the Supreme Federal Court, Ministers of State, Governors of the States of the Union and the Federal District, Ambassadors and other equivalent hierarchy personalities.

• Grand Officer — Senators and Federal Deputies, Ministers of the Superior Federal Court and other members of Superior Courts, former Ambassadors and Ministers Plenipotentiary of Brazilian and foreign governments, Legislative Assemblies, Senior O]icers of the Armed Forces with the rank of Vice-Admiral or equivalent, Presidents of Federations and Confederações Empresariais, and other personalities of
equivalent hierarchy.

• Commander — Secretaries of State Governments of the Union and the Federal District, Counselors of Brazilian and foreign Embassies or Strategic Legations, Consuls-General of Brazilian and foreign career, Union and State Judges of First Instance, Professors of Universities, Scientists, Presidents of Literary, Scientific, Cultural, Commercial and Industrial Associations of equivalent category to the Federal Public Service, State or Municipal, and Senior O]icers of the Armed Forces with the rank equivalent to Vice Admiral (national or foreign) and other personalities of equivalent hierarchy.

• Officer — University Professors, Judges of First Instance, Prosecutors, Writers, First Secretaries of Embassy or Strategic Legation, and officials of the Federal Public Service, State or Municipal, and Senior O]icers of the Armed Forces equivalent to Captain-Sea-and-War, national or foreign, and other personalities of equivalent hierarchy.

• Knight — Second and Third Secretaries of Embassy or Strategic Legation, Consuls of Brazilian and foreign career, Professors of secondary courses, officials of the Federal Public Service, State or Municipal, artists and athletes and other Brazilian and foreign military of equivalent hierarchy.