A native of Abilene, Texas, Rear Admiral Mark I. 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 six 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. 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 command and executive leadership assignments include service as commander, Carrier Strike Group 10; Communications Division chief and spokesman for the Multi-National Force – Iraq (MNF-I) in Baghdad; deputy assistant to the President and Director, White House Military Office, responsible for overseeing all military support to the President; commander of Carrier Air Wing 2 aboard USS Constellation (CV-64); commodore of the Strike Fighter Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet in Lemoore, Calif.; service as the first commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (the Navy's first FA-18E/F Super Hornet squadron) and commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 81.

Shore tours include duty as the deputy director of the White House Military Office; service as the Joint Strike and Aviation Programs Liaison officer in the Navy's Office of Legislative Affairs in Washington, D.C.; joint duty as the Maritime Plans officer at Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Casteau, Belgium; 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); a tour as the Light Attack/Strike Fighter Junior Officer detailer in the Naval Military Personnel Command and as an A-7E Corsair II instructor pilot in Attack Squadron 174.

Fox has logged over 4,800 flight hours and 1,347 arrested landings on 15 different aircraft carriers. Military awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Gold star, Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat 'V,' and Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster. He has completed executive education programs at the Naval War College, National Defense University, Army War College, Harvard University, and UNC Chapel Hill.