Alumni Spotlight

The Cardinal Mooney Alumni Spotlight showcases and recognizes outstanding Cardinal Mooney Alumni for their academic and professional achievements, service to their community, and their continuation of Cardinal Mooney’s tradition of “Sanctity, Scholarship, and Discipline.” With the Alumni Spotlight, we will explore and regularly share the diverse accomplishments of our graduates.

Jason Hickenbottom Alumni Spotlight Fall 2024
Cardinal Mooney Class of 2000

Professional Experience & Honors:
Jason Hickenbottom, CMHS class of 2000, has had a distinguished career in the United States Navy for the last 20 years.

ATCS (AW/SW/IW) Jason R. Hickenbottom first reported to Recruit Training Command Great Lakes in August 2004. Soon after, he reported to the Naval Aviation Technical Training Center (NATTC) Pensacola, FL for Aviation Electronics Technician “A” School.

Jason went to the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Command Unit (CNATTU) Oceana, Virginia Beach, VA to complete Consolidated Automated Support Systems (CASS) Operator/ Maintainer “C” School prior to his first shore command at NAS Oceana, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD), and later the Fleet Readiness Command Mid-Atlantic (FRCMA).

Senior Chief Hickenbottom’s initial three-year sea tour was with the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in Norfolk, VA where he served on the Big Stick’s 2008-2009 deployment then started the Refuel Complex Over Haul (RCOH) in Newport News Naval Shipyard, VA.

At the end of this tour, Senior Chief Hickenbottom reported once again to CNATTU Oceana, assigned as a CASS Instructor and Course Supervisor for the CASS Advanced Maintenance/Calibration course where he completed his Master Training Specialist (MTS) qualification.

In both 2014 and 2017, Senior Chief Hickenbottom deployed on the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). In 2016, he was selected as Chief Petty Officer and pinned while out to sea during the Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX).

After 14 years in the Hampton Roads area, Senior Chief Hickenbottom was assigned to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIRSYSCOM) in Patuxent River, MD where he worked on the IR 6.7.5 Special Skills and Training Gap Analysis Team.

Senior Chief Hickenbottom reported to USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN 69) in November 2020 and was the AIMD CASS Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO) during the 2021 COVID deployment after which he was selected to ATCS and put in charge of the COVID Administration Department as the DLCPO.

In May of 2022, Jason was cross-decked to Commander Naval Air Force Atlantic (CNAL) Training Team where he has been a Team Lead until his retirement in September of 2024.

Senior Chief Hickenbottom’s many personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (six awards), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, in addition to numerous other campaign and unit awards.

Mooney Reflection:
Some of Jason’s favorite Mooney memories include friendships made and athletic events; Jason was a member of the Mooney baseball team and manager of the football team for three years. He will never forget cheering in the student section at football games and heading to the courtyard after team wins to ring the bell!

Other great memories include the epic physics video that he made with Mike Moritz, and Tim Riley for Ms. Varley, classes with the legendary Mr. Tony Roncone and Jason’s role in the CMHS production of Grease, his senior year.

One of the significant takeaways from Mooney for Jason was a continued dedication to service.

Throughout his naval career, he dedicated countless hours of service to a variety of causes to include Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society, Habitat for Humanity, Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters (CHKD), Red Cross, and multiple schools, helping with tutoring and their JROTC programs.

Personal Life – Accomplishments & Interests:
Jason now lives in Chesapeake, VA with his family. He is married to his beautiful wife Racheal, and they have three children: Alfonso (8), Lilian (6), and Violet (1). His hobbies include spending time with his family, coaching his son and daughter in baseball, ridingi his motorcycle, smoking/grilling food, playing darts and golf, and building things!

He is retiring from the Navy as a Senior Chief Petty Officer after 20 years of service, seven duty stations, three ships, and four deployments. He plans to stay in Chesapeake after retirement.

Thank you, Jason, for your exemplary service to our country and commitment to helping others!

Article written by Cardinal Mooney enrichment coordinator, Kim Simons Cox, Class Of 1989