The Mission: Impossible star was honored by the U.S. Navy on Dec. 17 for his advocacy of the military branch and was awarded the Department of the Navy Distinguished Public Service (DPS) Award, the highest honor an individual outside of the Navy can earn.
"His efforts in the film industry," read a Dec. 17 statement from the U.S. Navy, "have increased public awareness and appreciation for the Navy's highly trained personnel and the sacrifices they make while in uniform."
The Navy also commended Cruise -- who was named the U.S. Navy's 36th Honorary Naval Aviator in 2020 alongside Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick producer Jerry Bruckheimer, according to the organization's website -- for the impact his film projects have had, stating that "recruitment for Navy pilots surged in the late 1980s and early 1990s" because of his work.
"It was an honor to present Tom Cruise with a Defense Public Service award for his decades of naval advocacy through many movies," Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said in the statement. "His work has inspired generations to serve in our Navy and Marine Corps."