Tom Cruise has been awarded the U.S. Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award, the highest civilian honor that can be given by the Navy Secretary. The 62-year-old “Top Gun” actor received the award on Tuesday in recognition of his commitment to the Navy. The honor highlights how his work in the film industry has helped raise public awareness and admiration for the Navy’s skilled personnel and the sacrifices they make while serving. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro praised Cruise for his long-standing advocacy of the military, noting that his films have inspired countless people to pursue careers in the Navy and Marine Corps.
“I’m glad to have been an inspiration to many of the sailors, both current and past,” Cruise shared.
“This effort wasn’t just mine alone; it’s also thanks to the cast and crew I work with on every project. They’re the ones who truly bring the work to life.”
Cruise is well-known for his role as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in the 1986 hit film “Top Gun,” which focused on pilots at the Navy’s Fighter Weapons School. Following the film’s release, the Navy saw a significant increase in pilot recruitment during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Cruise reprised his role in the 2022 sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, which went on to earn more than $1.4 billion at the box office and received a nomination for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
To capture the exciting flight scenes in Maverick, IMAX cameras were installed inside F-18 cockpits, which were piloted by real Navy pilots. The Military Officers Association of America reports that retired Navy pilot Frank “Walleye” Weisser flew Cruise’s fighter jet for the film.
In addition to his role in Top Gun, Cruise portrayed a Navy lawyer in A Few Good Men and a Marine Corps sergeant in Born on the Fourth of July. In 2020, the U.S. Navy honored Cruise by naming him an honorary naval aviator, allowing him to wear the “wings of gold” of a U.S. naval aviator.
The recognition highlighted his efforts to ensure the Top Gun franchise remained as realistic and authentic as possible.
