From Elite Operations to Talent Operations: One Veteran’s Path to KBR

Mark Hickey spent more than two decades building teams for high-stakes missions in the U.S. Army Special Forces. Today, he does it from a different vantage point - helping place the right people into roles that support the soldiers still carrying out those operations.

Hickey serves as a recruiter, people manager and liaison at KBR's Mission Technology Solutions business. He ensures critical positions are filled with strength coaches, medical providers, clinical specialists and other human performance professionals who help keep elite units healthy, resilient and mission-ready.

"In a nutshell, the most important part of my job is ensuring we have the most qualified people in place to deliver for our customers," said Hickey, a regional director of KBR's Health and Human Performance program.

The work carries significant responsibility: He oversees more than 200 contractors, manages initial candidate evaluations and engagement and coordinates with military units to match talent with operational needs.

Finding his path in Special Forces

Hickey enlisted in the Army at age 23 while working full-time at a sporting goods store in San Antonio, Texas, and attending college part time. The military offered structure, opportunity and a way forward.

He began his career as a cavalry scout, but a chance encounter with a Special Forces recruiter at Fort Polk, Louisiana, changed everything.

"I saw what he was doing and thought, 'that's what I want to do,'" Hickey said.

He tried out, earned a place and entered the demanding Special Forces pipeline. He went on to serve more than two decades on Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) teams, the 12-person units known for conducting specialized missions and training partner forces around the world.

Hickey began as a Green Beret medic, a role that demands both advanced medical expertise and full combat responsibilities. Over time, he expanded his expertise: attending sniper school, becoming a Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) instructor and cross-training across multiple specialties.

"You become a jack of all trades," he said. "You learn a little bit of everything because the mission demands it."

From uniform to human performance support

Hickey retired from the Army in 2009 but continued supporting Special Forces as a government civilian, helping manage careers and later supporting a human performance initiative focused on strength, recovery and injury prevention.

"I was wearing a green suit on a Friday, and I showed up Monday basically doing the same thing as a civilian," he said.

That continuity made his eventual move to KBR a natural next step. After years working alongside contractors, he accepted a deputy regional director assignment and later assumed the regional director post.

Recruiting with a mission mindset

At KBR, Hickey's job centers on staffing and managing contractors across a wide range of human performance fields, including nurses, physicians and clinical psychologists. He reviews resumes, conducts screening calls and sends qualified candidates to military units for final interviews.

Once positions are filled, he focuses on people management: resolving issues, supporting employees and ensuring the program delivers value to the military.

The work draws heavily on skills he developed in uniform: discipline, delegation and the ability to motivate people from diverse backgrounds. He has broadened his leadership perspective by managing a workforce that includes men and women from varied professions, which has strengthened his ability to listen, adapt and lead effectively.

Continuing to serve

For Hickey, the role builds on decades of service. Many of the soldiers he supports today are part of the same community he stood beside for years.

"I still have a big heart for the military," he said. "Being able to give back through this program - that's what I'm most proud of."

He believes strongly in the Health and Human Performance program's impact. Soldiers can stay healthier and remain operational longer with better performance support and injury prevention. "If we'd had this when I was on a team, I might still be on one," he added.

Outside of work, Hickey stays connected to his roots through competitive shooting. It's a discipline that reflects the precision and focus that defined his Special Forces career.

His advice is simple for fellow veterans considering a role at KBR: "Go for it. You'll be welcomed, and you'll be valued."