Walter T. Cox III

Walter T. Cox III is a retired United States Air Force major general and legal scholar who served as the 15th Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy. A distinguished judge advocate, his career spanned over three decades, including command of the Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps and key legal roles during the Vietnam War and the Gulf War. Following his military service, he transitioned to academia, serving as a professor and director of the National Institute for Military Justice at the Washington College of Law.

Early life and education

Walter T. Cox III was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and developed an early interest in military service. He received an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, graduating in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He subsequently earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Denver College of Law and was admitted to the Colorado Bar Association. Later in his career, he completed a Master of Laws in government procurement law from the George Washington University Law School, solidifying his expertise in military legal affairs.

Military career

Commissioned through the United States Air Force Academy, Cox's initial assignments included duties as a judge advocate during the latter stages of the Vietnam War. He held progressively senior legal positions, including staff judge advocate for the Strategic Air Command and the Air Force Systems Command. During the Gulf War, he provided critical legal counsel on the laws of armed conflict and operational law. In 1993, he was appointed The Judge Advocate General of the Air Force, leading the worldwide Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps. His most prominent command was as the 15th Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy from 1994 to 1997, where he oversaw the institution's academic, military, and athletic programs.

Post-military career and academia

Upon retiring from the United States Air Force in 2004, Cox joined the faculty of the American University Washington College of Law. He served as a professor of law and was appointed the director of the National Institute for Military Justice, a non-partisan organization dedicated to scholarly research on the Uniform Code of Military Justice. In this role, he contributed to significant studies on military legal reform, testified before the United States Congress, and lectured widely on topics including the Geneva Conventions, court-martial procedure, and the legal framework governing the War in Afghanistan.

Awards and honors

Throughout his service, Major General Cox received numerous military decorations and civilian accolades. His personal awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal. He is a recipient of the American Bar Association's Morris I. Leibman Award for exceptional service in military law. Furthermore, he has been honored by the Judge Advocates Association and was inducted as a fellow of the American Bar Foundation in recognition of his contributions to legal scholarship and the profession.

Personal life

Walter T. Cox III is married and maintains a residence in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. He remains active in veterans' affairs and legal education circles, frequently participating in events hosted by the United States Air Force Academy Association of Graduates and the Federal Bar Association. His son, Walter T. Cox IV, followed a path in public service, serving as an officer in the United States Marine Corps.

Category:United States Air Force generals Category:United States Air Force Academy alumni Category:American military lawyers