Lieutenant Colonel Erik Hickson is a native Virginia. In 2008, he completed Platoon Leaders Course at Officer Candidate School and graduated from Franciscan University earning a Bachelor of Science degree Business Management. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in January 2009. Upon completion of The Basic School, he reported to Flight School in Pensacola, FL and was designated a Naval Aviator in January 2012.
First Lieutenant Hickson reported to Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 39 for initial training in the UH-1Y at Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron (HMLAT) 303. In September 2012, he reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 367 at MCB Kaneohe Bay. In 2014, Captain Hickson deployed on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and upon return, 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- May 2016.
In May 2017, Captain 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, he served in various assignments to include 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 of 2020 Major Hickson reported 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, leading the squadron through multiple Detachments for Training (DFT) as well as Service Level Training Exercise (SLTE).
In August 2021, Major Hickson assumed the duties of the HMLA Detachment OIC for the 24th MEU where he participated in Operation ALLIES REFUGE. Major Hickson returned from deployment in December 2021 and assumed the duties of the Executive Officer, HMLA-269. During this period, he coordinated the squadron support to NATO Exercise COLD RESPONSE in Bardufoss, Norway and operational support to CTF 61.2 RXR operations in Estonia.
In May 2022, Major Hickson reported to MAG-29 and assumed the duties as the Group Operations Officer. Major Hickson coordinated the MAG-29 efforts in supporting the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing Distributed Aviation Operations (DAO) warfighting concept to include assisting in the design and writing of the Standard Operating Procedures and the first Wing DAO exercise.
In June 2023, Major Hickson reported to HQMC (AVN) to assume the billet of Light/Attack Helicopter Requirements Coordinator in AWS-53. LtCol Hickson reported to MAG-29 in June 2025 to prepare to assume command of HMLA-269 in February 2026.
Lieutenant Colonel Hickson’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and a Sea Service Ribbon with two gold stars.