Alex Cox
By Lorrie Ross
Staff Writer
Western North Carolina residents often enjoy the skies on a clear night. Yet for Clay County native Alex Cox, space is part of everyday life. Cox is a Guardian in the United States’ newest military branch, the United States Space Force.
For the last several months, the Hayesville High School graduate, was involved in extensive training. In late 2022, we talked to another HHS graduate, Jacob Nicholson, who is also part of the Space Force; however, Cox did not feel ready to be interviewed about it. “I didn’t want to do a disservice to you or the USSF by answering questions I honestly didn’t have answers to,” he said. “Now that I’ve gone through all this training, I’m by no means a subject matter expert, but at least I understand a bit more how all the pieces to the puzzle fit.”
He shared information about the USSF. “As the smallest branch, along with being new, it provides a unique opportunity to provide and act on feedback. Its highly specialized mission set encapsulates some of the most educated employees in the civilian sector, with a plethora of PhD’s and years of experience,” he said. “The USSF is responsible for organizing, training and equipping Guardians to conduct global space operations that enhance the way our joint and coalition forces fight, while also offering decision makers military options to achieve national objectives”
Cox works for Delta 18, or Space Domain Awareness Flight, 2nd Space Analysis Squadron at the National Space Intelligence Center. He quoted its mission, “Deliver unparalleled technical expertise and game-changing Intelligence--empowering national leaders, joint force warfighters and acquisition professionals to outwit, out-reach and win in the space domain.”
He added, “More specifically, I work Space Domain Awareness, a sort of fusion of many intelligence facets linking the identity, location, known patterns and intent of space-based actions to produce a comprehensive threat picture with an understanding of potential adversary actions.”
Cox did not start with the military. After a few years of school, he began exploring options and spoke to an Air Force recruiter.“Like many high school students, I didn’t have the faintest idea what I wanted to do upon graduation- just a sense of urgency and expectation to get a degree and do great things,” he said. “Whatever people say about the military, it certainly gives you a steady paycheck and opportunity to expand your horizons, see new places, and meet people from many walks of life, for more insight into what it is you actually want to do.”
He spent a decade in the USAF prior to applying for USSF. “I decided to apply,” he explained. “But the selection process is highly specific to job classifications for USSF needs so it took time for a slot to become available. My job with the USAF was as a Geospatial Intelligence Analyst, which was on the list of possible transfers, as we also need remote sensing of space based objects.”
Officer recommendations were an integral part of the selection. “The process wasn’t necessarily rigorous, but needed O-5 level recommendation and upstanding record if transitioning from a previous branch of service,” he added.
His USSF transition started September 21, 2022. When asked about his own rank, Cox replied. “I am enlisted, E5/Sergeant Cox with a current title of NCOIC, which means Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, for my section.” He is stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB, in Ohio, but may eventually transfer to one of the Space Force intelligence hubs likes California or Colorado.
He is excited to help shape this military branch future. “One of the draws to joining a new branch is being part of and able to build something from the ground up,” he explained. “Prior experience, and experience from multiple military branches all being incorporated into the USSF increase potential of shaping the branch to be great. The beauty of the Space Force is it is in support of the final frontier. Not to be cliché. Yes the domains of land with the Army, sea with the Navy, and air with the Air Force are ever evolving constantly changing domains, but Space is something that has infinite potential and no-one can say for certain what the future may look like.”
Cox believes people are more aware of Space Force Guardians because of movies and television. “I think Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Netflix’s Space Force with Steve Carell all have varying levels of influence for how people view the Space Force,” he smiled. “I would say the sentiments being expressed by the general population are good for a chuckle, but the work being done by USSF members is serious value. The realignment of space and the space based domain outside of the Air Force was a move that had to happen. If not now, then in some years. The rapid expansion of the Space Domain and space capabilities justifies a separate command structure and helps to clearly delineate roles and responsibilities. I think it’s important to remember that nearly everything we do revolves around space. Much of our cell phone communication, GPS, even the atomic clock. And consider this: in 1957 the USSR launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth. In the course of 66 years, we have put more than 8,000 satellites in orbit, landed men on the moon, sent satellites into parabolic and hyperbolic orbits to explore other planets and the solar system. We have even begun to commercialize space. The journey has just begun, and the USSF will play an integral role in shaping that future.”
His wife of two years, Ginger, is also in the USSF and was selected based on her job with the United States Air Force. The couple met while both stationed with the Air Force at Ramstein AB, in Germany. “We don’t have children yet, but I would hope they would be inspired and their imagination and curiosity piqued by that final frontier of space,” Cox said.
The son of Steve and Tammy Cox has a family who is well-known in Clay County. “It all started with my grandparents, Tim and Betty Cox,” Alex Cox explained. :Along with a ton of uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, and nephews still living in Hayesville, brother Blake Cox who commissioned into the Army and left to do great things, and sister Rachel Cox who moved down the road a ways to Charlotte and is putting her Masters to great work there.”
When asked about moving back to western North Carolina someday, he responded, “For all Clay County’s charms, our professional lives and careers will likely never see us back in the area. I miss the Smokies and cherish my trips home to see family, but work in intelligence is nearly always located around more populous hubs. Despite the quiet life, it’s also nice to drive one exit and find a Target, Wal-Mart, Texas Roadhouse, a mall, and nearly anything else you’d need instead of having to drive 30 minutes in different directions to find one of those places.”
Whether he will have a lifelong military career is undecided. “I would say my thoughts on the matter vary from day to day,” he said. “Between inflation outpacing pay increases, to job stability, to benefits, I intend to finish this contract, reassess where I am in life and make a decision based on where I am at that point in life.”
He does think military life could be right for many people. “Anyone considering joining the military should take it one contract at a time and make the system work for you. Utilize all the benefits available to you, and re-evaluate the pros and cons for each enlistment. Especially leaving high school, if you need time to think, to get out of the small bubble of Hayesville and explore the world a bit, the military may be viable. I would also say do not Christmas tree the ASVAB test. Even if you have zero intent to join the military today, things and opinions change. The test is certainly easier while all that information is fresh and readily available. I would also caution, don’t join the military just for college education if you have reservations. Nowadays a plethora of companies offer opportunities similar, if not better than the military. Spend the extra time to do your research, find someone who knows the information, and is passionate to help. A little extra time today could save you years in the future. Anyone with questions should speak to your closest recruiter.”
Cox ended, “I’m thankful for my family, and all the love and support across the years. It’s hard being in California, then Afghanistan, then Germany, and sometimes unable to make it home as life goes by. Childhood friends pass. Childhood dogs- things you can’t be there for. Family will always help you through it. Thanks to Coach Carney- may he rest in peace, and Joe Buckner for introducing the prospect of the military that ultimately led me here. Thanks to the Clay County Progress for the opportunity to share a bit about the branch.”