United States Army Institute of Heraldry

The Institute of Heraldry
Seal of The Institute of Heraldry
Agency overview
Formed1 September 1960 (1960-09-01), at
5010 Duke Street,
Cameron Station, Virginia
Preceding Agency
  • Heraldic Program Office
JurisdictionFederal Government
Headquarters9325 Gunston Road,
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
38°42′9″N 77°8′51″W / 38.70250°N 77.14750°W / 38.70250; -77.14750
Motto"Aegis Fortissima Honos" (Latin)
"Honor is the strongest shield"
Employees22
Parent AgencyOffice of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army
Websitetioh.army.mil

The Institute of Heraldry, officially The Institute of Heraldry, Department of the Army,[1] is an activity of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army solely responsible for furnishing heraldic services to the President of the United States and all federal government agencies. Title 18 of the United States Code, Chapter 33, Section 704 and Title 32 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 507 permit the institute to issue directives on how military insignia are displayed, the criteria for issuance, and how insignia will be worn on military uniforms.

The activities of The Institute of Heraldry encompass research, design, development, standardization, quality control, and other services relating to official symbolic items—seals, decorations, medals, insignia, badges, flags, and other items awarded to or authorized for official wear or display by federal government personnel and agencies. Limited research and information services concerning official symbolic items are also provided to the general public. The Institute of Heraldry is located at 9325 Gunston Road, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, a military installation in the U.S. Army Military District of Washington. The institute employs 22 Department of the Army civilians.

  1. ^ "General Orders No. 29" (PDF). Army Publishing Directorate. Washington, D.C.: Headquarters, Department of the Army. Retrieved 10 June 2020.