USAFA, AOG to recognize 2017 Distinguished Graduate honorees
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The Air Force Academy and its Association of Graduates announced the school’s newest Distinguished Graduate honorees Jan. 5.
The three graduates will be recognized April 6 at the Academy’s Founder’s Day Lunch at 11:30 a.m. John Fox of Denver; T. Allan McArtor of Great Falls, Va.; and retired Gen. Steve Lorenz of Monument, will join 34 prior honorees who made significant contributions to the U.S.
Fox
After serving as an Air Force pilot and instructor, Fox moved into the oil, natural gas and energy business. He founded Western Gas Resources, Inc. and was the company’s executive vice president and chief operating officer for 15 years. Fox co-founded MarkWest Energy Partners was its president, CEO and chairman of the board from 1987-2009.
Fox is chairman of the board of Kona Mountain Coffee, based in Hawaii. He’s also the founding director and a former vice chairman of the Air Force Academy’s Endowment, and a primary supporter of the Academy’s Center for Character and Leadership Development and its Research and Development Institute.
McArtor
Before becoming chairman and chief operating officer of Airbus Group, McArtor was a senior manager with the Federal Express Corporation and administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration from 1987-1989.
Before flying on the Air Force’s Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team, McArtor was a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War.
He serves today on the Board of Directors of the Academy Athletic Corporation and is a 30-year trustee of the Falcon Foundation.
Lorenz
Lorenz’s 37-year Air Force career concluded with an assignment of Air Education and Training Command at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. He’s served as commander at the squadron, group, wing and major command levels, and as commandant of cadets at the Academy.
After the 9-11 attacks, he directed the Force’s annual budget director of about $100 billion for four years.
After retiring from the Air Force, Lorenz became president and CEO of the Academy Endowment for four years and helped raise more than $80 million for Academy building projects and programs.
