Major Hickson attended Platoon Leaders Course at Officer Candidate School in May of 2008. He attended Franciscan University, graduating in December of 2008 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in January 2009 and reported to The Basic School on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, in April 2009. Major Hickson reported for Aviation Preflight indoctrination in August 2010, followed by Naval Flight Training in Pensacola, Florida. After earning his wings in January 2012, he reported to Marine Light Attack Training Squadron (HMLAT) 303, Camp Pendleton, CA for initial training in the UH-1Y.
Major Hickson completed initial UH-1Y training in July 2012 and then reported to Marine Light Attack Squadron (HMLA) 367 aboard Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. His first deployment was on the 31st MEU from May of 2014 to November 2014. Upon return from deployment, he attended Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course 16-1 in September 2015. At the completion of WTI, he executed his second deployment, again on the 31st MEU from November 2015 to May 2016. During his time at HMLA-367, Major Hickson served in various assignments, including Operations schedule writer, Current Operations Officer, Ground Training Officer, UH-1 Pilot Training Officer, Quality Assurance Officer, UH-1 NATOPS officer, and the Tactics Standardization Officer in Charge.
In May 2017, Major Hickson reported Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) to serve as a UH-1 Instructor Pilot. During his time at MAWTS-1, Major Hickson served in various assignments, including Academics Officer, Operations External Air Support Coordinator, and the UH-1 Division Head, serving as the UH-1 Training and Readiness Syllabus Sponsor, the UH-1 Air-Naval Tactics Techniques and Procedure model manager, and the UH-1 Flight Leadership Standardization Evaluation Program Manager.
In June 2020, Major Hickson departed Yuma, Arizona, and checked in to Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 29, Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. From June 2020 to September 2020, Maj Hickson served as the MAG 29 Assistant Operations Officer. In September, he checked into HMLA-269, the Gunrunners, where he served as the Department of Safety and Standardization OIC. In January of 2021, Major Hickson assumed the duties of the Operations Officer and currently serves as the Executive Officer.
Major Hickson’s personal decorations include the Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star, and a Sea Service Ribbon with one gold star.