Mark I. Fox

Last updated
Mark Irby Fox
Fox Oct. 2013.jpg
Vice Admiral Mark I. Fox in October 2013
Nickname(s)MRT [1]
Born (1956-03-01) March 1, 1956 (age 68)
Abilene, Texas
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1978–2016
Rank Vice Admiral
Commands held United States Naval Forces Central Command
United States Fifth Fleet
Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center
Carrier Strike Group Ten
Carrier Air Wing 2
VFA-122
VFA-81
Battles/wars Gulf War
Iraq War
Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Silver Star
Legion of Merit (3)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal (2)

Mark Irby "MRT" Fox (born March 1, 1956) is a retired United States Navy vice admiral who served as the Deputy Commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM). Prior to assuming his duties at CENTCOM, he served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans, and Strategy (N3/N5), Commander, United States Naval Forces Central Command and Commander, United States Fifth Fleet. [2] He also previously served as the Commander of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, and as Communications Division Chief, American Embassy Annex, Baghdad, Iraq.

Contents

In October 2006, then-Rear Admiral Fox completed a tour as the Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Military Office (WHMO), responsible for overseeing all military support to the President of the United States. He also served as WHMO Deputy Director for 18 months before assuming responsibilities as WHMO Director in January 2005. [3]

A native of Abilene, Texas, Fox was commissioned in June 1978 upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy and was designated a naval aviator in March 1980.

During his career, Fox deployed from both coasts in five fleet tours, flying the A-7E Corsair II and F/A-18 Hornet in over 100 combat and contingency missions off the coasts of Lebanon and Libya, and over the Balkans and Iraq.

Lieutenant Commander Fox after recording first Iraqi MiG shoot down by coalition forces during Operation Desert Storm Lt. Cmdr. Mark Fox of Strike Fighter Squadron 81 sits in the cockpit of the FA-18C Hornet aircraft that he was flying when he became the first coalition pilot to shoot down an Iraqi MiG aircraft.jpg
Lieutenant Commander Fox after recording first Iraqi MiG shoot down by coalition forces during Operation Desert Storm

Fox's combat highlights include scoring the first navy MiG kill of Operation Desert Storm prior to dropping his bombs on an airfield in western Iraq on January 17, 1991, and leading the opening "Shock and Awe" strike of Operation Iraqi Freedom on March 21, 2003.

Vice Admiral Fox as Commander United States Naval Forces Central Command Mark I. Fox, United States Navy Vice Admiral, official photo.jpg
Vice Admiral Fox as Commander United States Naval Forces Central Command

Fox's previous command assignments include Commander, Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center; Commander, Carrier Strike Group Ten; Commander, Carrier Air Wing 2; Commander, Strike Fighter Wing, United States Pacific Fleet; the first Commanding Officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (the Navy's first F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Fleet Replacement Squadron), and Commanding Officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 81.

Shore tours include duty as an A-7E Instructor Pilot in Attack Squadron 174; a tour as the Light Attack/Strike Fighter Junior Officer Detailer in the Naval Military Personnel Command; assignment as Aide and Flag Lieutenant for Commander, Naval Air Force, United States Atlantic Fleet; Aide and Flag Lieutenant to the Assistant Chief of Naval Operations (Air Warfare – OP-05); joint duty as the Maritime Plans Officer at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Casteau, Belgium; and service as the Joint Strike and Aviation Programs Liaison Officer in the Navy's Office of Legislative Affairs in Washington, D.C.

Corporate career

Fox retired from the navy in April 2016, and in June 2016 joined Huntington Ingalls Industries as Newport News Shipbuilding Vice President of Customer Affairs. [4]

Fox is married to Priscilla (née Wood). They have four children, William, Collin, Mason and Abigail.

Awards and decorations

Fox has logged over 4,900 flight hours and 1,348 arrested landings on 15 different aircraft carriers.

Naval Aviator Badge.jpg Naval Aviator insignia
US - Presidential Service Badge.png Presidential Service Badge
Official CENTCOM Seal.png United States Central Command Badge
Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Distinguished Service Medal
1 golden star.svg
Navy Distinguished Service ribbon.svg
Navy Distinguished Service Medal (with 1 gold award star)
Silver Star ribbon.svg Silver Star
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg
Legion of Merit (with 2 award stars)
Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg Valor device.svg Distinguished Flying Cross (with Combat "V")
1 golden star.svg
Bronze Star ribbon.svg
Bronze Star (with 1 award star)
Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Meritorious Service Medal
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 award stars)
Air Medal ribbon.svg Valor device.svg Award-star-silver-3d.png Award numeral 6.png Air Medal (with Combat V, silver award star and bronze Strike/Flight numeral 6)
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg Valor device.svg Award star (gold).png Award star (gold).png Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with Combat V and 2 award stars)
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award-3d.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with 2 bronze oak leaf clusters)
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Navy Unit Commendation (with 4 bronze service stars)
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (with 1 service star)
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Navy Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg
Navy Expeditionary Medal (with 1 service star)
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal (with 2 service stars)
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with 2 service stars)
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal (with 2 service stars)
Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon.svg
Armed Forces Service Medal (with 1 service star)
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Silver-service-star-3d.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (with 1 silver and 3 bronze service stars)
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon.svg Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon
Gugseon Security Medal Ribbon.png Order of National Security Merit, Gukseon Medal (Republic of Korea)
Order of Bahrain, 1st class.png The Khalifiyyeh Order of Bahrain, First Class
NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
United States Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon with expert device.svg Navy Expert Rifleman Medal
United States Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon with expert device.svg Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal

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References

  1. "NSAWC Holds Change of Command Ceremony" United States Navy. Released 24 April 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2012,
  2. Hunsaker, Lewis. "Vice Adm. Miller Takes Helm of U.S. Navy in Middle East". United States Navy. Archived from the original on 5 March 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  3. "United States Navy Biographies – Rear Admiral Mark I. Fox". United States Navy. Retrieved 2007-01-10.
  4. Brenton, Beci. "Photo Release—Huntington Ingalls Industries Announces Mark I. Fox as Newport News Shipbuilding Vice President of Customer Affairs". Huntington Ingalls Industries. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander of the United States Naval Forces Central Command
2010–2012
Succeeded by
Commander of the United States Fifth Fleet
2010–2012
Preceded by Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy
2012–2013
Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Commander of the United States Central Command
2013–2016
Succeeded by