Col. Kevin D. Hicok is the Commander at the 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. The wing's mission is to provide, project and sustain combat-ready air forces. He is responsible for the mission readiness of the wing’s 79 aircraft and 18 squadrons, stewardship of Shaw Air Force Base, and the health and welfare of over 8,000 active-duty Airmen and civilians. Furthermore, Col. Hicok supervises the support of 31,000 local military retirees and 29 geographically separated units across nine states.
Col. Hicok received his commission as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minn., in 2001. He has served as an F-16 pilot, instructor pilot, flight examiner, weapons officer and instructor at the USAF Fighter Weapons School at Nellis AFB, Nev., as well as the Commander, 51st Operations Support Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea. Prior to his current position, he served as the Deputy Commander of the 20th Fighter Wing.
Col. Hicok is a command pilot with more than 2,300 hours in the F-16, including 297 combat hours. Earlier in his career, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and served as an advisor to the 603d and 617th Air Operations Centers during crisis action planning and execution of Operation Odyssey Dawn and Operation Unified Protector. Most recently he deployed as the Commander of the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing, Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, where he led 25 squadrons, 11 aviation units, and nearly 5,000 joint personnel who earned the Gallant Unit Citation supporting operations Midnight Hammer, Rough Rider, Prosperity Guardian, Inherent Resolve, and Spartan Shield.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 USAF Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2011 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2011 Masters of Business Administration, Trident University International
2015 Masters of National Strategic & Security Studies, College of Naval Command & Staff, R.I.
2019 Masters of National Security Strategy with Cyber Security Leadership Concentration, National War College, Ft McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. June 2001 – June 2002, Squadron Programmer, 494th Fighter Squadron, Lakenheath Air Base, U.K.
2. June 2002 – August 2003, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Moody Air Force Base, Ga. & Laughlin AFB, Texas
3. August 2003 – January 2004, Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Moody AFB, Ga.
4. February 2004 – December 2004, Student, F-16 replacement training unit, 63d Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
5. December 2004 – January 2008, F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Examiner, 13th Fighter Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
6. January 2008 – December 2008, F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Examiner, 35th Operations Group, Misawa AB, Japan
7. July 2009 – October 2010, F-16 Instructor Pilot and Weapons Officer, 22d Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
8. October 2010 – May 2011, Wing Weapons Officer, 52d Operations Support Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
9. May 2011 – June 2013, Chief of Squadron Stan-Eval, 16th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
10. June 2013 – June 2014, Director of Operations, 57th Operations Support Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
11. July 2014 – June 2015, Student, College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
12. October 2015 – June 2016, Director of Operations, 36th Fighter Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
13. June 2016 – June 2018, Commander, 51st Operations Support Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
14. July 2018 – June 2019, Student, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
15. June 2019 – July 2021, Branch Chief and Action Officer, Special Technical Operations Division, Global Operations (J39), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
16. July 2021 – June 2024, Deputy Commander, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.
17. June 2024 – Present, Commander, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. (April 2025 – October 2025, Commander, 378th Air Expeditionary Wing, Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia)
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2019 – July 2021, Branch Chief, Special Technical Operations Division, Global Operations (J39), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,300, including 297 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-6A, T-38A/C, F-16 Blocks 30/40/42/50/52
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters and C device
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Combat Action Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze star
Korean Defense Service Medal
NATO Medal – Operation Unified Protector
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2003 Distinguished Graduate and Daedalian Award, Undergraduate Pilot Training
2004 Distinguished Graduate, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals
2004 Distinguished Graduate, F-16 RTU
2008 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School
2009 F-16 Flying Award, Weapons Instructor Class 09A, USAF Weapons School
2015 Graduate with Highest Distinction, College of Naval Command and Staff
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 2001
First Lieutenant May 2003
Captain May 2005
Major June 2011
Lieutenant Colonel January 2016
Colonel February 2021
(Current as of December 2025)