Admiral was in 'Top Gun'

A fighter pilot who headed the Navy in the Pacific and made a cameo appearance as a Tom Cruise foe in Top Gun has taken over as the top US military commander in Asia and the Pacific.

Admiral Robert F. Willard assumed control of the US Pacific Command yesterday.

The F-14 fighter pilot portrayed a Soviet MiG-28 pilot who wore a black helmet and took on Cruise, who famously gave Willard's character "the bird" while flying upside-down above him.