Our Veterans: Craig Fox, Transit Facilities Manager
Published on November 11, 2024
Veterans Day is an opportunity to honor those who previously served in the United States Armed Forces. In addition to thanking all Veterans for their service, we also wanted to highlight a few of our own. This year, we're introducing you to a small number of the many Veterans who work for the City of Charlotte. Read or watch below as they share more about their time in the military and how they were able to transition to a career in public service.
Name: Craig Fox
Job Title: Transit Facilities Manager, Charlotte Area Transit System
MOS: Army Ranger, Engineer Officer
Branch: Army
Length of Service: 22.5 years
Joined the City of Charlotte: 2002
Why did you want to join the military?
I saw a lot of my friends and family either going to school and not enjoying it or doing jobs they didn’t enjoy, and I really just wanted to do something off the cuff and do something adventurous.
What branch did you join and why?
Army. Actually I went to join the Air Force first, but the fact that I didn’t have depth perception [meant] they wouldn’t let me be an air traffic controller. So, I flipped the script 180 degrees and I said "well if I’m not going to be able to do that when I get out of the military, I’m at least going to get some college money." So I went into the Army and joined the Army Rangers and wanted to jump out of airplanes, which I got to do.
How was your experience as an Army Ranger?
It was difficult but definitely worth it. I got to do a lot of things that I’d never get to do anywhere else in the world. Anything from jumping out of planes and helicopters to repelling and just a lot of different things like that.
Were you an Army Ranger for your entire military career?
No. Actually I started out enlisted as an infantryman in the Ranger Battalion. After I got out, after my first four years, I transitioned to college. I did ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) and commissioned as an engineer officer about halfway through my career.
Was that always the plan to leave the military and go back?
No. I’d actually stayed in the reserves but got deployed several times to Iraq and the Middle East, so I wound up on active duty. Probably more on active duty than off active duty.
What was your experience like serving overseas?
For the first ten years or so, before 9/11, it just kind of felt like everything was practice until after 9/11. Then things got real with deployments and combat zones.
When did you decide to leave the military?
I wound up with a rare type of cancer at 38, when I had 22 and a half years [of service]. I planned on probably doing at least 30. However, after the Army treated my cancer and decided I was cancer free, they also decided to medically retire me as well.
How was getting that diagnosis while you were in the military?
It was difficult. I had five small kids at the time and just not knowing which way it was going to play out for me was extremely difficult, but the Army took fantastic care of me. They saw me through my treatment, saw me through my post treatment, and ultimately through my transition back to civilian life.
What led you to working for the City of Charlotte?
When I originally came to the city back in October of 2001, right after 9/11, I had started off after I graduated with my degree. I started off with NCDOT, and it took me less than a year to realize that wasn’t the career I wanted. So, I applied with the City of Charlotte and got hired into engineering property management.
What’s your journey been like working for the city?
After being there for a few years, I moved around, did a lot of things still within the civil engineering realm. When I came back to the city in 2007, I was with the airport, and I really thought I was going to hang my hat there for the last ten years of my career. But as things progressed I left there and became the deputy city engineer and was asked to take over facilities for Charlotte Area Transit.
Did you ever imagine you would be with the City of Charlotte for over 20 years?
Not really, because at some point I thought I would transition into the private sector. But between the deployments and knowing that I’d always have a job when I came back from a deployment, I always acknowledge that that was very important to the family for financial security. It’s been fortunate, because I’ve gotten to see a lot of different facets from engineering to facilities throughout my career.
How has the military helped you grow into the roles you’ve held within the City of Charlotte?
I think I’ve taken away a lot from the military as far as leadership and just the general way of keeping things in order, keeping mission focused. Really making sure we get done what we say we’re going to get done.
How has the military changed your life?
I was really unsure what I was going to do when I graduated high school. Four years in the Ranger Battalion really disciplined me. I got out and I was absolutely sure I was going to get my degree, so it gave me a lot of discipline and a lot of focus.
When you look back on your life, would you join the military again?
Absolutely. Absolutely, no question about it. Just the experiences that I had, the friendships that I made, and just the value I see in the service itself.
Thank you for taking the time to get to know Craig Fox, one of the many Veterans who currently works at the City of Charlotte. To all our resident Veterans in the Queen City, we thank you for your service.
If you find yourself in need of assistance this Veterans Day, or any day after, please visit our Veteran Resources in Charlotte page.