Mark I. Fox

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mark Irby Fox
1956-
Mark I. Fox, Director of the White House Military Office
Place of birth	Abeliene, Texas
Allegiance	USN
Years of service	1978-present
Rank	Rear Admiral
Commands	White House Military Office
Battles/wars	Operation Desert Storm
Awards	Silver Star Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross

Rear Admiral Mark I. Fox (born March 1, 1956) is a United States Navy officer who serves as Communications Division Chief, Embassy Annex, Baghdad. In October 2006, Rear Adm. 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 served as WHMO Deputy Director for 18 months before assuming responsibilities as WHMO Director in January 2005. ^[1]

A native of Abilene, Texas, Rear Adm. 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, Rear Adm. Fox has deployed from both coasts in five fleet tours, flying the A-7E Corsair II and FA-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.

Rear Adm. Fox’s command assignments include Carrier Air Wing 2, the Strike Fighter Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet, service as the first Commanding Officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (the Navy’s first FA-18E/F Super Hornet squadron) and 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 Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet and 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.

Rear Adm. Fox has logged over 4,700 flight hours and 1,320 arrested landings on 13 different aircraft carriers. Military awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat ‘V’, Bronze Star, five individual Air Medals with Combat 'V', six Strike Flight Air Medals, as well as various other meritorious service, commendation and achievement medals.

Rear Adm. Fox is married to Priscilla Wood and they have four children, William, Collin, Mason and Abigail.