Mark I. Fox
Mark Irby Fox | |
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![]() Vice Admiral Mark I. Fox in October 2013 | |
Nickname(s) | MRT[1] |
Born | Abilene, Texas | March 1, 1956
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1978–2016 |
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 retiredUnited States Navyvice admiralwho served as the Deputy Commander ofUnited 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 Commandand Commander,United States Fifth Fleet.[2]He also previously served as the Commander of theNaval Strike and Air Warfare CenteratNaval Air Station Fallon, Nevada,and as Communications Division Chief, American Embassy Annex,Baghdad, Iraq.
In October 2006, then-Rear Admiral Fox completed a tour as the Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of theWhite House Military Office(WHMO), responsible for overseeing all military support to thePresident of the United States.He also served as WHMO Deputy Director for 18 months before assuming responsibilities as WHMO Director in January 2005.[3]
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A native ofAbilene, Texas,Fox was commissioned in June 1978 upon graduation from theUnited States Naval Academyand was designated anaval aviatorin March 1980.
During his career, Fox deployed from both coasts in five fleet tours, flying theA-7E Corsair IIandF/A-18 Hornetin over 100 combat and contingency missions off the coasts ofLebanonandLibya,and over theBalkansandIraq.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/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/220px-thumbnail.jpg)
Fox's combat highlights include scoring the first navyMiGkill ofOperation Desert Stormprior to dropping his bombs on an airfield in western Iraq on January 17, 1991, and leading the opening "Shock and Awe" strike ofOperation Iraqi Freedomon March 21, 2003.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Mark_I._Fox%2C_United_States_Navy_Vice_Admiral%2C_official_photo.jpg/200px-Mark_I._Fox%2C_United_States_Navy_Vice_Admiral%2C_official_photo.jpg)
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 ofStrike Fighter Squadron 122(the Navy's firstF/A-18E/F Super HornetFleet Replacement Squadron), and Commanding Officer ofStrike Fighter Squadron 81.
Shore tours include duty as an A-7E Instructor Pilot inAttack 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 atSupreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europein Casteau, Belgium; and service as the Joint Strike and Aviation Programs Liaison Officer in the Navy'sOffice of Legislative AffairsinWashington, D.C.
Corporate career[edit]
Fox retired from the navy in April 2016, and in June 2016 joinedHuntington Ingalls IndustriesasNewport News ShipbuildingVice President of Customer Affairs.[4]
Fox is married to Priscilla (née Wood). They have four children, William, Collin, Mason and Abigail.
Awards and decorations[edit]
Fox has logged over 4,900 flight hours and 1,348 arrested landings on 15 different aircraft carriers.
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References[edit]
- ^"NSAWC Holds Change of Command Ceremony"United States Navy. Released 24 April 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2012,
- ^Hunsaker, Lewis."Vice Adm. Miller Takes Helm of U.S. Navy in Middle East".United States Navy. Archived fromthe originalon 5 March 2013.Retrieved26 May2012.
- ^"United States Navy Biographies – Rear Admiral Mark I. Fox".United States Navy.Retrieved2007-01-10.
- ^Brenton, Beci."Photo Release—Huntington Ingalls Industries Announces Mark I. Fox as Newport News Shipbuilding Vice President of Customer Affairs".Huntington Ingalls Industries.Retrieved17 June2017.
External links[edit]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Official Navy biographyThis work is in the public domain.
- 1956 births
- Living people
- People from Abilene, Texas
- United States Navy personnel of the Gulf War
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
- Recipients of the Air Medal
- Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
- Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
- United States Navy vice admirals
- United States Naval Academy alumni
- United States Naval Aviators
- Military personnel from Texas
- Members of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America