Patriots long-snapper Joe Cardona, who graduated from the Naval Academy in 2015, was promoted to the lieutenant rank in the U.S. Navy on Thursday at Gillette Stadium during an event honoring the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
Cardona, 27, was promoted from lieutenant junior grade. The four-season NFL veteran has spent his time in New England balancing his football career with his active-duty commitments to the Navy.
"Congratulations to Lieutenant Joe Cardona on his promotion," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said, according to ESPN. "And obviously a day to remember our World War II veterans on D-Day.