Panetta receives Eisenhower Award.

• Position: NDIA News

* The National Defense Industrial Association at its annual awards dinner April 15 presented the prestigious 2015 Dwight D. Eisenhower Award to Leon Panetta for his longstanding and extraordinary career in public service.

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Award is NDIAs most prestigious award and is accompanied by the Eisenhower Medal. The association recognizes leadership and strategic impact at the highest levels of national security.

For nearly 50 years, Panetta's career has included serving as secretary of defense, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, White House chief of staff, director of the Office of Management and Budget, member of the House of Representatives and chairman of its Budget Committee.

"Secretary Panetta is a man of great talent and ability for whom America offered many paths to success. We are fortunate as a nation that he chose public service for his life's work," said NDIA Chairman Arnold Punaro. "His dedication to maintaining American security, freedom and democracy embodies the very essence of the Eisenhower Award."

His service began as a Vietnam-era Army intelligence lieutenant, while his Washington career began as a Senate aide...