RADM Glen W. “Corky” LENOX, USN (Ret)
Golden Eagle Emeritus

Gentlemen,

It is my sad duty to inform you that on Thursday, 6 November 2025, Golden Eagle Emeritus RADM Glen W. “Corky” LENOX, USN (Ret), made his Last Take Off at the Valley Christian Home in Hanford, CA. Corky was 97 years of age.
 

Corky was born in September 1928 in Dayton, KY to the Reverend Russell and Mary Lenox. In his early life he moved often since his father, a United Methodist minister, was assigned to churches in the central and eastern parts of Kentucky. On graduating from high school, he attended Asbury College, a private Christian liberal arts college, in Wilmore, Kentucky for two years before accepting an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1948. Graduating from Annapolis on 6 June 1952, Corky spent the next two months there as an instructor prior to reporting to NAS Pensacola, FL, for flight training in September 1952. While in the training command he flew the SNJ Texan, SNB Twin Beech, and the F6F Hellcat, based in Pensacola and NAS Kingsville, TX, earning his Wings of Gold on 16 December 1953. He remained at Kingsville for two more months to complete jet transition training, flying the F9F-2 Panther. In March 1954 he reported to the VF-84 Sidewinders (as known at that time), based at NAS Oceana, VA, flying the F9F-5 Panther. He deployed aboard USS Lake Champlain (CVA 39), a straight-deck carrier, on a Mediterranean Sea deployment from September 1954 to April 1955. Prior to deployment, on 1 May 1954, he married the love of his life, Jetta Mae Pitts, whom he had met in Pensacola while in flight training. Their wedding marked the beginning of a 70-year marriage.
 

In July 1955, the squadron was re-designated as VA-86 and transitioned to the F7U-3M Cutlass and conducted extensive evaluation of the AIM-7 Sparrow missile. Their only deployment with the Cutlass was the shakedown cruise of USS Forrestal (CVA 59) in 1956. In August 1957 Corky reported to Advanced Training Unit 223 (ATU-223), later re-designated as VT-26, as a tactics instructor pilot flying the F9F-8. After a year in that billet, in August 1958 he began a tour as a student at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, maintaining proficiency in the SNB and the T2J Buckeye (later became the T-2A). Corky followed those two years with one more year of education, from August 1960 to June 1961, at Princeton University, NJ, earning his master’s degree, and again maintaining proficiency in the SNB. In July 1961 he joined Carrier Air Wing Three as the Air Wing LSO, flying the F3H Demon, F8U Crusader and A4D Skyhawk, based at NAS Oceana. Deploying aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60), Corky made two Mediterranean Sea deployments from November 1961–May 1962 and from March 1963 to October 1963. The Ship/Carrier Air Wing team was also involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis in December 1962. Completing this tour in August 1964, Corky’s next assignment was as Operations Officer for the VF-33 Tarsiers, again stationed at NAS Oceana, flying the F-4B Phantom II. Deploying aboard USS America (CVA 66), he completed a Mediterranean Sea deployment from November 1965–July 1966. In August 1966 he began a year of instruction at the Naval War College in Newport, RI, once again maintaining proficiency in the SNB. With his selection for command, he returned to NAS Oceana in July 1967 to begin his tour as XO/CO of the VF-84 Jolly Rogers, flying the F-4J. Deploying aboard USS Independence (CVA 62), the squadron completed a Mediterranean Sea deployment from April 1968–January 1969. Assuming command in October 1968, Corky led VF-84 in achieving the highest levels of full-up aircraft systems readiness for the AIRLANT community. He also won the Carrier Air Wing Top Hook award for the deployment.
 

In December 1969 Corky reported to the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in Washington, DC, to assume the F-14 Class desk billet. After one year he departed to assume command in May 1971 of Carrier Air Wing 14 based at NAS Miramar, CA. Deploying aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) in June 1971 for combat operations in Vietnam, Corky flew the F-4J and A-7E Corsair II on 74 combat missions. He led CVW-14 to achieve the best full-up aircraft systems readiness in combat operations experienced to that time in any deployed Carrier Air Wing. At the completion of his successful command tour, Corky returned to Washington, DC, to OPNAV to serve as the TACAIR analyst in the Navy’s Office of Program Appraisal. This was another one-year tour, followed by a return to NAVAIR in July 1973 to serve as Head, Carrier Aircraft Branch. In February 1976 Corky became the first Program Manager for the F/A-18 Program (PMA-265) for the next four-plus years. He was most proud of leading the F/A-18 design and development teams through some very challenging political and technical environments and into production. Corky was instrumental in developing the concept of a true multi-mission carrier-based tactical aircraft and coined the term Strike Fighter. His next and final active-duty assignment was as Commander, Light Attack Wing Pacific, at NAS Lemoore, CA, assuming command in June 1980. While in command, he led the Fleet Introduction of the F/A-18 at Lemoore, establishing the Fleet Replacement Squadron and base support and training facilities for the Hornet. Corky retired from active duty on 1 November 1982.
 

Over the course of Corky’s 30-year career, he flew more than 4,700 accident-free flight hours in 31 types of aircraft and amassed 846 carrier arrested landings in six types of aircraft. He had five Mediterranean Sea deployments, 10 Atlantic Ocean deployments, and one WestPac deployment, flying from Lake Champlain (straight deck), Forrestal, Saratoga, Lexington, America, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Independence and Enterprise. He had 74 combat missions over Vietnam as a CAG and was awarded seven Air Medals. He also held four aviation command tours during his career. Perhaps most significantly, and in large part due to his extensive experience as a Naval Aviator, Corky was one of the key individuals responsible for leading the F/A-18 program from development to production to the fleet, an aircraft that has matured and performed extraordinarily well and serves as the foundation of carrier-based tactical aviation.

Following retirement from the Navy, Corky spent 10 years in the aircraft industry, first with the Northrop Corporation in Hawthorne, CA,  and later with United Technologies Corporation, Advanced Systems Division, in San Diego, CA He also remained active in numerous positions in charity and church organizations in San Diego, and later in Hanford, CA. He was an avid golfer, and for over 25 years was a member of the Century Club of San Diego, the host organization for the PGA tournament at Torrey Pines golf course, serving one year as the President. Corky also maintained close ties with Naval Aviation, was a long-time member of the Tailhook Association, and served seven years as the Tailhook Educational Foundation President.

Corky was preceded in death by his loving wife of 70 years, Jetta, in August 2024. He is survived by his four children and their spouses, Jennifer Shearer (Dan), Kelly Lenox (Chris Laskowski), Amy Medeiros (Adam), Mark Lenox (Lynn), and by eleven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Interment will be at Bay View Cemetery in Pensacola, FL, next to his beloved Jetta, at 1100 on 10 January 2026. In lieu of flowers, his family asks that gifts be made to the Valley Christian Home, 511 E. Malone St, Hanford, CA 93230, (559) 585-3000, or the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association (https://www.usna.com/ways-to-give).

He will be missed.

In sadness,
Marty CHANIK
Pilot