Quick Facts
Biography
Mark Irby "MRT" Fox (born March 1, 1956) is a United States Navy Vice Admiral who was serving as the Deputy Commander of United States Central Command before retiring April 22, 2016. Prior to assuming his duties at CENTCOM, he served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans, and Strategy (N3/N5), Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (COMUSNAVCENT) and Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet (COMFIFTHFLT). He also previously served as the Commander of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC) at Naval 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 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.
Biography
A native of Abilene, Texas, 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, 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.
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.
He 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 insignia |
 Presidential Service Badge |
 United States Central Command Badge |
 | Defense Distinguished Service Medal |
  | Navy Distinguished Service Medal (with 1 gold award star) |
 | Silver Star |
 | Legion of Merit (with 2 award stars) |
  | Distinguished Flying Cross (with Combat "V") |
 | Bronze Star (with 1 award star) |
 | Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
 | Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 award stars) |
   | Air Medal (with Combat V, silver award star and bronze Strike/Flight numeral 6) |
 | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with Combat V and 2 award stars) |
 | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal |
  | Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with 2 bronze oak leaf clusters) |
  | Navy Unit Commendation (with 4 bronze service stars) |
 | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (with 1 service star) |
 | Navy Expeditionary Medal (with 1 service star) |
 | National Defense Service Medal (with 2 service stars) |
 | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with 2 service stars) |
 | Southwest Asia Service Medal (with 2 service stars) |
 | Iraq Campaign Medal |
 | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal |
 | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
 | Armed Forces Service Medal (with 1 service star) |
  | Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (with 1 silver and 3 bronze service stars) |
 | Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon |
 | The Khalifiyyeh Order of Bahrain, First Class |
 | NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia |
 | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) |
 | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) |
 | Navy Expert Rifleman Medal |
 | Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal |