CNN
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After years of playing military heroes on screen, Tom Cruise is now one in real life.

The “Top Gun” star was honored with the Department of the Navy Distinguished Public Service (DPS) Award at a ceremony in London on Tuesday, which recognized Cruise’s contributions and commitment to the U.S. Navy through his film work.

According to a news release, the award is the Navy’s highest honor that an individual can receive outside of the Department of the Navy. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro presented Cruise with the award, saying in a statement, “His work has inspired generations to serve in our Navy and Marine Corps.”

Cruise’s efforts in the film industry have “increased public awareness and appreciation for the Navy’s highly trained personnel and the sacrifices they make in uniform,” the press release said.

“I am pleased that I was able to be a source of inspiration to many of the Sailors who are serving today or have served in the past,” Cruise said in a statement. “The effort was not just mine, but also the cast and crew I get to work with on all of our sets. They’re the ones who really bring the work to life.”

Cruise is known for his starring roles in the 1986 classic “Top Gun,” in which he played a Marine fighter pilot, and the 2022 sequel “Top Gun: Maverick,” which grossed over $1 billion at the box office.

The Navy said in the news release that Cruise’s work on the original “Top Gun” film sparked a surge in Marine pilot recruitment at the time.

The film’s producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, was named Honorary Naval Aviators by the department along with Cruise in 2020.