Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy has been awarded the U.S. Navy's highest civilian award for public service.
U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Maybus presented the Democrat on Wednesday with the Distinguished Public Service Award during an informal ceremony in Malloy's capitol office.
Maybus credits Malloy with helping to strengthen relations between Connecticut and the Navy, highlighting how the state has committed tens of millions of dollars to help pay for improvements at the U.S. Submarine Base in Groton.
Once pegged for closure, Maybus calls the submarine base "one of our absolute crown jewels."
The public service award also credits Malloy with reaching the recent agreement with Sikorsky Aircraft to build nearly 200 heavy cargo helicopters for the military in Stratford.
Maybus is the longest-serving Navy secretary since World War I.
