Lt. Cox enlisted at the age of 17 and worked extremely hard to step up through the ranks. He was a third class petty officer when I first met him. He came from a background that few of us can imagine and even fewer overcome. He used the opportunities in the military to obtain the education that would have otherwise been unavailable to him. As an enlisted man he was runner up for Sailor of the Year and was soon selected as a Chief Petty Officer at nearly the same time as he was selected as a Limited Duty Officer. He delayed accpeting the commission in order to serve in the honored ranks of Chief Petty Officers. Even as an LDO he continued his education, eventually earning his degree. He didn't use his rank to rule but rather as position to educate, train and mentor those that worked for him.
As his former father-in-law, Todd left this life with my admiration, gratitude for defending us all and a great deal of love in our hearts for someone we had the chance to share our lives with.