Dan Hickey

Learning why space matters

Though Warrant Officer (WOFF) Dan Hickey had an interest in space since childhood, it wasn’t until serving in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) that his aspirations for a career in the sector truly evolved. 

“As my understanding of the space environment and a knowledge of what’s up there grew, I quickly realised how much humanity relied on space every day,” WOFF Hickey says. 

From completing Year 12 studies, WOFF Hickey joined the Royal Australian Air Force as an Air Surveillance Operator in 2002. Since then, his professional development within the ADF has involved a wide array of space training, exercises and deployment experience. This skillset has culminated in his posting as a ‘Squadron Warrant Officer’ in the ADF’s first tactical space operations Unit, No.1 Space Surveillance Unit (1SSU). 

During initial work as an Air Surveillance Operator, a need to understanding space weather and the space environment was critical to WOFF Hickey’s role in ‘Over the Horizon Radar’ Operations. 

A posting to Colorado 

WOFF Hickey regards this experience ignited his "passion for all things space.”

In 2010, he received training in a new capability that processed data from the US missile warning satellite constellation – Space Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS). This training led to a three-year posting to the state of Colorado in the US, where he worked with the US Air Force in conducting missile warning for the US and its allies. 

He recalls this experience as a significant chapter in his career. “I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with many space professionals from all over the world, operating one-of-a-kind space systems that serve every day to provide and protect our way of living as we know it,” shares WOFF Hickey. 

Returning to Australia’s Space Domain

After his time in Colorado, WOFF Hickey was posted to RAAF Base Edinburgh performing ‘Space Operations’ through various Space Domain Awareness (SDA) systems. As well as time as an instructor delivering the ADF’s Space Fundamentals Course. WOFF Hickey’s next posting led to his current role as the 1SSU’s ‘Squadron Warrant Officer’. 

1SSU currently contributes to the Space Surveillance Network, operating the C-Band Radar and Space Surveillance Telescope. It also provides ‘Missile Warning’ through processing Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) data from the U.S. SBIRS constellation. The specialised unit conducts SDA operations out of Commercial Data Mission Centre (CDMC) in Adelaide.   

Over the course of his career with the ADF, WOFF Hickey says much of his inspiration has come from key leaders in the space field he has worked alongside. 

“I found the passion and dedication from these individuals infectious.” 

Looking to the future, WOFF Hickey believes Australia’s space industry is on an exciting trajectory for technical innovation and collaboration both nationally and globally.