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Colonel James R. Hickey, combat veteran of two tours of duty in Iraq, has been assigned to the Georgia Army National Guard as senior Army advisor, a position that has been vacant for more than a year. Hickey, who’s last active Army posting was four months as chief of strategy, Multi-National Force – Iraq (MNF-I), and eight months as chief of staff, strategic operations for the MNF-I in Baghdad, will spend two to three years in the senior advisor slot. The last advisor to the Georgia Army Guard, Col. Al Jones, retired from military service a little more than a year ago. He holds the civilian position of deputy chief of staff at Headquarters First Army at Fort Gillem. As senior advisor, Hickey is liaison between Georgia’s Adjutant General and the active Army. In this position Hickey is the active component spokesman in all matters dealing with the National Guard. He will provide advice and other assistance to Guard commanders in issues concerning organization, training, and unit readiness. Hickey will help Georgia commanders in preparing their units for their war-time missions, while placing emphasis on “development and operational programs.” His duties also include enforcing standards set for appointments, branch transfers and promotions on federal recognition boards. He will “accomplish responsibilities related to federal recognition of units, selective retention board and perform other duties.” Hickey, a Bay City, Mich., native, holds a bachelor of science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He also has two masters of science degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in Troy, N.Y., one in applied mathematics and one in operations research and statistics; masters in business administration in finance, with honors from Long Island University and masters in security strategy from the U.S. Army War College. His military schooling includes the Field Artillery Officer Basic, Cannon Battery Officer, and Advance Officer Courses; Combined Arms and Services Staff School; Army Command and General Staff College; Armed Forces Staff College and the U.S. Army War College. Upon graduation from the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Hickey assumed duties as commander, U.S. Military Observer Detachment-Kuwait, with duty to the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observer Mission in Umm Qasr, Iraq. Returning from Iraq, he commanded 5th Brigade, 78th Division, a training support unit at Fort Meade, Md. He was responsible for training, readiness oversight and mobilization of all Reserve component units. Hickey also saw duty as defense coordinating officer in the seven-state, Mid-Atlantic Region to include Washington. Next he served two years as chief of staff, First U.S. Army, where he was responsible for training, readiness oversight and mobilization of all Reserve component units and home land security throughout the continental U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster; Bronze Star Medal; Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster; Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf clusters; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Joint Service Achievement Medal; Army Achievement Medal w/ two oak leaf clusters; and the National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star. He also has earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service medals; Korean Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Medal; Humanitarian Service Medal; and Army Service Ribbon. Other awards include three Overseas Service ribbons; Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster; Army Superior Unit Award with oak leaf cluster and the United Nations Service Medal. He has also earned the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, Master Parachute Badge, Ranger Tab, U.S. Navy parachute badge and the Australian and French parachutist badges. He and his wife, Shelly have two children.
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