SECRETARY OF THE NAVY CARLOS DEL TORO, PARAMOUNT GLOBAL AND ITS CHIEF VETERAN OFFICER RICHARD M. JONES TO BE HONORED AT
INTREPID MUSEUM’S SALUTE TO FREEDOM GALA ON MAY 25
Intrepid Former Crew Members to Receive Intrepid Valor Award in Honor of Storied Carrier’s 80thCommissioning Anniversary
NEW YORK (May 16, 2023) – The Intrepid Museumwill honor Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy, and media and entertainment company Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA) and its Executive Vice President, General Tax Counsel and Chief Veteran Officer Richard M. Jones, at its annual Salute to Freedom gala on Thursday, May 25, at the Intrepid Museum. Former crew members of the USS Intrepid will receive the Intrepid Valor Award in honor of the legendary carrier’s 80th commissioning anniversary during the event. Jim Axelrod, chief investigative and senior national correspondent for CBS News, will serve as master of ceremonies.
The Honorable Carlos Del Toro will receive the 2023 Intrepid Freedom Award. Del Toro has served as the 78th Secretary of the Navy since 2021. He is responsible for over 900,000 Sailors, Marines, reservists, and civilian personnel and an annual budget exceeding $210 billion. His priorities include securing the training and equipment successful naval operations demand and addressing the most pressing challenges confronting the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. His 22-year naval career included a series of critical appointments and numerous tours of duty at sea – including First Commanding Officer of the guided-missile destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG 84); Senior Executive Assistant to the Director for Program Analysis and Evaluation in the Office of the Secretary of Defense; and Special Assistant to the Director and Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Secretary Del Toro emigrated with his family from Cuba in 1962 and was raised in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, home to the Intrepid Museum for more than 40 years.
“It is an honor to be back in my hometown celebrating Fleet Week New York, highlighting the incredible work our Sailors and Marines are doing in support of our national and economic security. I am humbled to receive the Intrepid Freedom Award, and it is a testament to all who have supported me throughout my career in service to our Nation. It is my hope that others will see the opportunities that the Navy provided me with and will also be inspired to answer the call to serve.”
Paramount and Richard M. Jones will receive the 2023 Intrepid Salute Award. Jones serves as Executive Vice President, General Tax Counsel and Chief Veteran Officer for Paramount, which is home to Paramount Pictures, CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, Paramount+ and Pluto TV, among other iconic media and entertainment brands. Under his leadership, the company formed the Paramount Veterans Network to promote the well-being of veterans and their families. A U.S. Army veteran who served as a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment and 10th Mountain Division, Jones works closely with many veterans organizations, including the Wounded Warrior Project, the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), the Office for Veterans and Military Affairs (OVMA) at Syracuse University, GI Go Fund, JobPath, Empire Vets, the National Veterans Memorial & Museum, Army Ranger Lead the Way Fund, the GallantFew, The Darby Project, Veterans Advantage and the Fisher House Foundation.
“The work of the Fisher Family, the Intrepid Museum and its Board are the living, breathing embodiment of the call to action that President Abraham Lincoln challenged us with at his Second Inaugural Address, “To care for [those] who shall have borne the battle . . .”. It has been a great honor to have worked these many years with the Intrepid Museum and to support its impactful, life-changing mission and it is an even greater honor to be recognized for this year’s award for which Paramount and I are so grateful.”
Additionally, Toni Trucks and Judd Lormand from Paramount Plus show SEAL TEAM will attend the Gala. Known for their roles as Lisa Davis and Eric Blackburn, they also serve as Ambassadors for the Paramount Veterans Network and work closely with Richard M. Jones on several veteran and military family initiatives.
Eighty years ago, on August 16, 1943, the engineering marvel USS Intrepid was commissioned. Throughout 2023, the Museum will celebrate Intrepid’s 80 years of service to our country, both as an active ship and as a Museum. At the gala, former crew members from all eras of the carrier’s service will be honored with the Intrepid Valor Award for demonstrated courage and perseverance.
“Every year, we recognize the remarkable contributions of individuals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, and this year is especially important as it marks the 80th commissioning anniversary of our beloved ship,” said Susan Marenoff-Zausner, president of the Intrepid Museum. “The honorable Carlos Del Toro’s career-long service to our nation, and Rich Jones’ tireless efforts to promote the well-being of our nation’s veterans, are admirable and awe-inspiring. We are thrilled to celebrate them and equally thrilled to celebrate the 50,000 men of Intrepid who serve as our guiding light every day.”
The Intrepid Museum's Salute to Freedom gala recognizes extraordinary leadership and honors the brave men and women who serve in defense of our nation.
Support from the gala makes possible educational experiences for more than 50,000 students each year, dynamic STEM content, free programs for veterans and military families, exhibitions that present stories of bravery and innovation, and the preservation of historical artifacts and collections in the Museum’s care.
Cocktails will begin at 6:00pm ET, with dinner and awards to follow. To purchase a table or tickets to the event, click here.
About the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is a private non-profit, educational institution featuring the legendary aircraft carrier Intrepid, the space shuttle Enterprise, the world’s fastest jets and a guided nuclear missile submarine. The Museum is one of the world’s most unique cultural institutions illuminating the intersection of history and innovation through the people who lived it and the technology that made extraordinary accomplishments possible.
The mission of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is to promote the awareness and understanding of history, science and service through its collections, exhibitions and programming in order to honor our heroes, educate the public and inspire our youth.