Marine Air Control Squadron 4

 

Marine Air Control Squadron 4

MACS-4

MCAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan
Biography

Commanding Officer
LtCol Michael D. Hicks

Lieutenant Colonel Hicks was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and began his military career by enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1988 as a diesel mechanic and wrecker operator in Battery N 5th Battalion 14th Marines.  He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Officer Candidate Course program following his graduation from the University of Texas El Paso with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology in 1996. 

Upon completion of The Basic School in March 1997 and Air Defense Control Officer’s Course in June 1997 he reported to Marine Air Control Squadron 1 Camp Pendleton, California where he served as the Classified Material Control Center Officer and worked towards his initial tactical qualifications in the Tactical Air Operations Center (TAOC).  First Lieutenant Hicks reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in 1999 where he served as a Series Commander and the Depot Logistics Operations Officer.  During his time at the Depot he completed a Master of Arts degree in Management from National University. 

Captain Hicks attended Command and Control Systems Course in Quantico, Virginia from July of 2001 until April of 2002.  After graduation he served as a Platoon Commander for the Officer Candidate Course summer cycle at Officer Candidates School.  Captain Hicks then reported to Marine Air Control Squadron 4 Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa in 2002 and deployed to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan where he earned tactical qualifications and served as the TAOC Detachment Commander.  Upon his return from Afghanistan he served as the MACS-4 Assistant Operations Officer and Operations Officer.  During this time he also graduated from the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 (MAWTS-1) Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course.  In 2005 Captain Hicks returned to MAWTS-1 MCAS Yuma, Arizona where he served as the TAOC Division Head and the C3 lead within the Aviation Development Test and Evaluation Department.

Major Hicks reported to Marine Air Control Squadron 2 MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina in 2008 and served as the Logistics and the Operations Officer.  In 2009 Major Hicks was assigned to 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and deployed to Camp Leatherneck Afghanistan where he served as the Air Command and Control Planner within the Fire and Effects Coordination Center.  Upon his redeployment in 2010 Major Hicks was ordered to Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation, Expeditionary Enablers Branch where he served as the Air Defense Branch Head and the TAOC advocate and action officer.

He was promoted to his current rank in 2012 and his most recent assignment has been at Marine Air Control Group 18 where he has served as the Group Operations Officer since August 2012. 

His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars in lieu of fourth award.