Mark I. Fox
Encyclopedia
Vice Admiral
Mark I. Fox, USN
(born March 1, 1956) is a United States Navy
officer currently serving as the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command
(COMUSNAVCENT) and Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet (COMFIFTHFLT). Prior to assuming command as COMUSNAVCENT and COMFIFTHFLT, he was the Commander of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center
(NSAWC) at NAS Fallon, Nevada. He also previously served as the 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 the White House Military Office
(WHMO), responsible for overseeing all military support to the President. He also served as WHMO Deputy Director for 18 months before assuming responsibilities as WHMO Director in January 2005.
A native of Abilene, Texas
, Vice Admiral Fox was commissioned in June 1978 upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy
and was designated a Naval Aviator
in March 1980.
During his career, Vice Admiral Fox has 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
.
His 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’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, U.S. Pacific Fleet (STKFITWINGPAC); 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, U.S. 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
(SHAPE) 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.
Vice Admiral Fox is married to the former Priscilla Wood and they have four children, William, Collin, Mason and Abigail.
, Silver Star
, Legion of Merit
, Distinguished Flying Cross
with Combat ‘V’, Bronze Star
, five individual Air Medal
s with Combat 'V', six Strike Flight Air Medals, as well as various other meritorious service, commendation and achievement medals.
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
Mark I. Fox, USN
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
(born March 1, 1956) is a United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
officer currently serving as the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command
United States Naval Forces Central Command is the United States Navy element of United States Central Command . Its area of responsibility includes the Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, and Arabian Sea...
(COMUSNAVCENT) and Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet (COMFIFTHFLT). Prior to assuming command as COMUSNAVCENT and COMFIFTHFLT, he was the Commander of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center
Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center
The Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at Naval Air Station Fallon located in the city of Fallon in western Nevada is the center of excellence for naval aviation training and tactics development...
(NSAWC) at NAS Fallon, Nevada. He also previously served as the 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 the White House Military Office
White House Military Office
The White House Military Office , an entity of the Executive Office of the President, provides military support for White House functions, including food service, Presidential transportation, medical support and emergency medical services, and hospitality services...
(WHMO), responsible for overseeing all military support to the President. He also served as WHMO Deputy Director for 18 months before assuming responsibilities as WHMO Director in January 2005.
A native of Abilene, Texas
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
, Vice Admiral Fox was commissioned in June 1978 upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
and was designated a Naval Aviator
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
in March 1980.
During his career, Vice Admiral Fox has deployed from both coasts in five fleet tours, flying the A-7E Corsair II and F/A-18 Hornet
F/A-18 Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets . Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and...
in over 100 combat and contingency missions off the coasts of Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, and over the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
and Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
His combat
Combat
Combat, or fighting, is a purposeful violent conflict meant to establish dominance over the opposition, or to terminate the opposition forever, or drive the opposition away from a location where it is not wanted or needed....
highlights include scoring the first Navy MiG
Mig
-Industry:*MiG, now Mikoyan, a Russian aircraft corporation, formerly the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau*Metal inert gas welding or MIG welding, a type of welding using an electric arc and a shielding gas-Business and finance:...
kill of Operation Desert Storm
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
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’s previous command assignments include Commander, Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center
Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center
The Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at Naval Air Station Fallon located in the city of Fallon in western Nevada is the center of excellence for naval aviation training and tactics development...
; Commander, Carrier Strike Group Ten
Carrier Strike Group Ten
Carrier Strike Group Ten, abbreviated as CSG-10 or CARSTRKGRU 10, is one of five U.S. Navy carrier strike groups currently assigned to the United States Fleet Forces Command. U.S...
; Commander, Carrier Air Wing 2; Commander, Strike Fighter Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet (STKFITWINGPAC); the first Commanding Officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 122
VFA-122
Strike Fighter Squadron 122 , also known as the "Flying Eagles", are a United States Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F/A-18 Hornet A/B/C/D Fleet Replacement Squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore.-History:...
(the Navy’s first F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a twin-engine carrier-based multirole fighter aircraft. The F/A-18E single-seat variant and F/A-18F tandem-seat variant are larger and more advanced derivatives of the F/A-18C and D Hornet. The Super Hornet has an internal 20 mm gun and can carry air-to-air...
Fleet Replacement Squadron), and Commanding Officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 81
VFA-81
Strike Fighter Squadron 81 , also known as the "Sunliners", is a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet strike fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana. They are a part of Carrier Air Wing Seventeen, their radio callsign is Zapper, and their tail code is AA...
.
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, U.S. Atlantic Fleet
U.S. Atlantic Fleet
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
; 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
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons...
(SHAPE) in Casteau, Belgium; and service as the Joint Strike and Aviation Programs Liaison Officer in the Navy's Office of Legislative Affairs
Office of Legislative Affairs (United States Navy)
The Office of Legislative Affairs is a United States Navy function which coordinates activities between the Department of the Navy and the United States Congress.The office reports to the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Vice Admiral Fox is married to the former Priscilla Wood and they have four children, William, Collin, Mason and Abigail.
Awards and decorations
Vice Admiral Fox has logged over 4,700 flight hours and 1,320 arrested landings on 13 different aircraft carriers. His personal military awards include the Defense Distinguished Service MedalDefense Distinguished Service Medal
The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States...
, Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
, Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
with Combat ‘V’, Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
, five individual Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
s with Combat 'V', six Strike Flight Air Medals, as well as various other meritorious service, commendation and achievement medals.