In addition to continuing the Society's efforts to improve geographic literacy, Fahey guided the significant expansion of the Society's Mission Programs during the past decade, including the creation of the National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence, Fellows and Emerging Explorers programs.
Fahey also spearheaded the Society's move into the creation of regional grant-making programs around the world, beginning in Northern Europe and Asia.
In 2011, he received Peru's highest civilian award, "Orden del Sol del Peru",[1] for his and National Geographic's role in helping retrieve a collection of ancient artifacts taken from Machu Picchu in 1912.
He worked previously for Home Box Office, where he was instrumental in the start up of CINEMAX.
In 2008, he received the David D. Alger Alumni Achievement Award[6] from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business.