The Tailhook Scandal was a military scandal which took place in 1991, but the implications of the event were so far-reaching that they continue to be felt in the military, especially in the Navy. Numerous careers were destroyed as a result of the Tailhook Scandal, and the incident still carries a heavy stigma. The event also attracted widespread public attention, as it highlighted gender issues in the Navy and Marines, and raised questions about the efficacy of the military justice system.

The events of the Tailhook Scandal took place at an annual symposium held by the Tailhook Association, an organization which promotes naval aviation; the name is a reference to the specialized hook on aircraft which is designed to grip the decks of aircraft carriers. After the Las Vegas symposium, 83 women and seven men came forward with accusations of sexual harassment and assault, sparking an investigation into conduct at the conference.

The Pentagon's Inspector General and the Naval Investigative Service both looked into events at the Tailhook Conference, questioning thousands of the five thousand estimated attendees, and ultimately referring 140 to the Navy and Marines for further investigation and punishment. 70 of the cases were dropped almost immediately, and the remainder of the offenders were very lightly punished.

However, innocent attendees were caught up in the wake of the Tailhook Scandal. People who had attended the 1991 conference found themselves unable to advance in military careers, and the scandal essentially acted as a taint on the names of all attendees, even if they were cleared. The failure to punish offenders more severely also attracted attention and anger, especially from feminists, and it highlighted the gender issues faced by the Navy and Marines as more and more women chose to serve on the high seas. In response, clearer sexual harassment policies were instituted, along with programs for anonymous reporting of sexual harassment and assault.

Ultimately, the Tailhook Scandal ensnared the Senate, high ranking officials from numerous government agencies, and a huge number of ordinary members of the military. The Navy decided to sever its ties with the Tailhook Association in 1991 in response to the unfolding events, and it wasn't until 1999 that the Navy and the Tailhook Association mended their rift. Accusations of improper interrogation and evidence collection tactics abounded during the 1992 and 1993 investigations into the Tailhook Scandal, and the organization still maintains that much of the abuse at the conference was “alleged” and never proved.