Stratton Hicky:  

Life I graduated from the United States Naval Academy and although I wanted to fly, it turns out I'm color blind so I went into the Supply Corps. I had sea tours on a Ballistic Missile submarine, a Submarine Tender, and a Cruiser. The Navy also sent me to graduate school in Monterey, California (great place if you can afford it!) and let me spend time in some other really nice areas including Groton, Connecticut, San Diego, California and Washington, D.C. Married to Wasson High School classmate Bonnie Long in 1980. We have 2 girls: Morgan, born in January 1995 and Dana, born in December 1997. I retired from the U.S. Navy after 22 years and then transitioned to working part-time as a financial manager and program analyst for the Missile Defense Agency in Washington, D.C. Bonnie also retired after 23 years as a Flight Attendant with American Airlines. We have moved to Madison, Georgia (just 2 months before the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks) and have been very happy with the move. Bonnie used to fly the American Airlines Flight #77 trip every week and I worked in the Pentagon. We are both thankful we decided to leave the D.C. area when we did! Even more good news... Small town life is great! Workplace I've dealt with almost every aspect of business and financial management in the Department of Defense, including working at the highest levels for the Chief of Naval Operations developing the Navy's Future Years Defense Plan, down to asking those same folks for more funding as the Business and Financial Manager for a Major Defense Acquisition Program, and even working with Senior Defense and Congressional staffs to resolve issues within several programs. After retiring from the Navy my background with basic engineering and Department of Defense Business and Financial Management put me in a good position to go back and support the government in a consulting position with the Missile Defense Agency, where I had just gained four years of experience. So, the "transition" from the Navy was a smooth one. I enjoyed being able to stay involved in such a dynamic and fast-moving part of the nation's defense. The challenges of missile defense, including the technical hurdles of the mission made eve...Expand for more