The U.S. Navy presented actor Tom Cruise its highest possible honor for a civilian on Tuesday, recognizing his decades-long contributions to military awareness through his film roles.
Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro awarded Cruise the Distinguished Public Service Award during a ceremony at Longcross Film Studios in Chertsey, Surrey, where the 62-year-old actor is filming his next project.
“Tom Cruise has spent nearly four decades as an unwavering supporter of the men, women and families of the navy and marine corps,” Del Toro said.
“I admire all of the servicemen and women,” Cruise said at the ceremony. “I know in life, something that is very true to me, is that is to lead is to serve. And I know that to my core. And I see that in the servicemen and women.”
The Navy credited Cruise’s starring roles in 1986’s “Top Gun” and its 2022 sequel “Top Gun: Maverick” with significantly boosting military recruitment. The original film’s impact was so substantial that the Navy established recruitment stations in movie theaters during its release.
The award acknowledges Cruise’s broader contributions to military awareness through other films including “Born on the Fourth of July” and “A Few Good Men.” The Navy specifically praised him for increasing “public awareness and appreciation for our highly trained personnel and the sacrifices they make while in uniform.”
“Top Gun: Maverick,” in which Cruise reprised his role as Lieutenant Pete Mitchell, was credited with renewing military interest among younger audiences while helping revitalize movie theaters following the pandemic.
Cruise joins distinguished company with the award, which was previously presented to filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks for their work on the World War II drama “Saving Private Ryan.”
The actor received the honor while working on “Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning,” scheduled for release in May 2025.