Editing Michael E. Hicks, Jr.

<p>'''Michael (Mike) E. Hicks, Jr.''' has over thirty-five years of experience in both public and private technology sectors. Following his graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Computers and Information Systems from [[wikipedia:Florida_A%26M_University|Florida A&M University]], Hicks was accepted into the US Navy Flight Program, laying the foundational stone for his diverse and impactful career. </p>

<p>As a Naval Officer, he flew [[wikipedia:Lockheed_EP-3|EP-3E]] electronic reconnaissance missions with [[wikipedia:VQ-1|VQ-1]] in Guam, instructed flight with VT-2 at [[wikipedia:Naval_Air_Station_Whiting_Field|NAS Whiting Field]], and was a vital staff member at Commander [[wikipedia:Training_Air_Wing_Five|Training Air Wing Five]]. Here, he pioneered the Wing’s IT department, supporting all NAS Whiting Field squadrons and leading significant communications and IT infrastructure projects including fiber network and data center development. </p>

<p>Transitioning to civilian entrepreneurship, Hicks founded Pensacola Internet. Under his leadership, it emerged as Pensacola’s second-largest ISP, pioneering the introduction of then-groundbreaking technologies such as the 56K modem and wireless internet access in the region. After selling Pensacola Internet, he took on the role of IT Director at Network Telephone, where he oversaw the company’s IT department's growth from 55 to over 600 employees across nine states. During his tenure, he led major initiatives in data and network design, significantly contributing to the company's expansion and technological advancement. </p>

<p>Eleven years later, he sold Pensacola Internet’s residential customers to Mindspring and business customers to Network Telephone. He then joined Network Telephone as their IT Director where he was responsible for managing the IT needs of the company as it grew from 55 employees to 600+ employees operating in 9 states. He oversaw projects such as data center design, fiber network design, wireless network design/construction and was a member of the team responsible for billing, OSS, trouble/network monitoring system selection and integration.  </p>

<p>In 2001, Hicks co-founded [[Hixardt Technologies]], leveraging his extensive expertise in enterprise and federal IT sectors. His strategic consultancy post-Hurricane Katrina to US Army [[wikipedia:Russel_L._Honoré|General Russel Honoré]] for the [[wikipedia:Joint_Task_Force_Katrina|Joint Task Force Katrina]] response underscored his commitment to leveraging technology in disaster recovery efforts. </p>

<p>Furthering his impact, Hicks served as emeritus chairman of the [[wikipedia:Federal_Reserve_Bank_of_Atlanta_New_Orleans_Branch|Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's New Orleans Branch]], offering insights on federal government requirements and entrepreneurial strategies. <br> </p>

<p>'''Hixardt Technologies''', (Hixardt) is an [[wikipedia:information_technology|information technology]] firm established in June 2001 and headquartered in Pensacola Florida servicing the upper [[wikipedia:Gulf_Coast_of_the_United_States|Gulf Coast]] and [[wikipedia:Washington_metropolitan_area|DC Metro areas]]. Hixardt is an IT solutions provider for both commercial and government clients. Hixardt provides best-in-class cybersecurity and compliance solutions to local professional organizations, regional government offices, and federal agencies. Across these diverse markets and geographies, its mission is simple; secure systems, empower people, and deliver peace of mind to leadership so they can focus on their mission. </p>