LtCol Hickey began his Marine Corps Career as a reservist and attended basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC from June to August 1993. He completed his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) training the following summer at the School of Infantry, Camp Lejeune, NC. LtCol Hickey actively drilled with Company C, 1st Bn 25th Marines for five years and deployed to 29 Palms for multiple Combined Arms Exercises (CAX), as well as Fort Drum, Estonia, and Norway.
Following his Commission in April 1999, LtCol Hickey attended The Basic School and was assigned the 1802, Tank Officer MOS. As a tank officer, he completed tours with 2D Tank Battalion as a platoon commander, 26th MEU (SOC) tank platoon commander, company executive officer, company commander, and battalion operations officer.
LtCol Hickey completed staff and higher headquarters tours with II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF); Combat Development and Integration, Marine Corps Combat Development Command as the Armor and Anti-Armor Capabilities Officer and Division Program Objective Memorandum (POM) Officer; 3d Marine Logistics Group as the Deputy G3 and Plans Officer; and III MEF Information Group as the Executive Officer.
LtCol Hickey conducted combat deployments with the 26th MEU (SOC) / Task Force 58 – in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (September 2001 to April 2002); 2d Tank Bn / Regimental Combat Team 5 – in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (January 2003 to June 2003); and II MEF (Fwd) as the Operations Officer of the Provincial Joint Coordination Center – Transition Team in Ramadi, Iraq (January 2007 to February 2008).
LtCol Hickey earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Salve Regina University and Masters Degrees in Military Studies and Operational Studies from Marine Corps University.