Chaplain, Brig. Gen. William "Bill" Dickens serves as the Mobilization Assistant to the Chief of Chaplains, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. As the Mobilization Assistant, he is the principal adviser to the Chief of Chaplains for training, readiness and sourcing the Air Force Reserve Chaplain Corps. He assists in developing the Chaplain Corps Strategic Plan, total force policy and strategic planning objectives. He assists the Deputy Chief of Chaplains in coordinating Air Force Reserve matters. Chaplain Dickens is a member of the Reserve Chaplain Corps Council and the Air Force Reserve Chaplain Development Team.
Chaplain Dickens was a direct commission as a first lieutenant on June 10, 1996. He has served 24 years in the Air Force Reserve. His previous assignments include: Wing Chaplain 445th Airlift Wing, Tenth Air Force Staff Chaplain, Individual Mobilization Assistant to the Command Chaplain, Air Force Reserve Command, IMA to the Command Chaplain, Air Combat Command, and MA to the Deputy Chief of Chaplains, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
In the civilian sector, Chaplain Dickens serves as the Headmaster at Calvary Christian School in Covington, Kentucky and as an Adjunct Professor at Northern Kentucky University. He has served as Senior Pastor and staff pastor at three churches in Kentucky. He is the author of “United on Mission: A History of the Northern Kentucky Baptist Association” (1995) and “Answering the Call: A History of the Early American Military Chaplaincy” (1998). He is also a Reserve Officer Association Lifetime Member.
EDUCATION
1983 Associate of Arts, Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove, Ill.
1985 Bachelor of Arts, Georgetown College, Georgetown, Ky.
1993 Master of Divinity, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky.
1995 Master of Theology (American Christianity), Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky.
1996 Air Force Officer Orientation Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1997 Chaplain Orientation Course, Distinguished Graduate, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1998 Doctor of Philosophy (Church History), Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky.
1999 Junior Officer Leadership Development, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2000 Reserve Academic Instructor’s School, Robins AFB, Ga.
2000 Squadron Officer's School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2003 Critical Incident Stress Management, Atlanta, Ga.
2004 Wartime Ministry Skills, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Wing Chaplain's School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Silver Flag Alpha, Creech AFB, Nev.
2010 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Senior Chaplain's Course, Fort Jackson, S.C.
2014 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2017 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Andrews AFB, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1996–October 2000, Protestant Chaplain, 445th Airlift Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2. October 2000–August 2003, Senior Protestant Chaplain, 445th Airlift Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (June 2001–July 2001, Installation Chaplain, Moron Air Base, Spain), (June 2002, Installation Chaplain, Istres AB, France)
3. August 2003–October 2009, Wing Chaplain, 445th Airlift Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, (July 2005–September 2005, Protestant Chaplain, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait) (January–May 2007, Senior Protestant Chaplain, Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq)
4. November 2009–April 2012, Staff Chaplain, Headquarters, Tenth Air Force, Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas (December 2010–July 2011, Wing Chaplain, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait)
5. May 2012–April 2013, Deputy Wing Chaplain, 445th Airlift Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
6. May 2013–April 2014, Staff Chaplain, Headquarters, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
7. May 2014–September 2015, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Command Chaplain, Headquarters, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
8. October 2015–June 2017, Mobilization Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Chaplains, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
9. June 2017–present, Mobilization Assistant to Chief of Chaplains, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
National Defense Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with two service stars
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with service star
Iraq Campaign Medal with service star
Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terror Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2003 Air Force Reserve Command "Best Stringer Writer''
2007 Reserve Officer Association "Chaplain of the Year''
2008 Air Force Reserve Command "Outstanding Chaplain Corps Program Award"
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
First Lieutenant June 10, 1996
Captain Dec. 1, 1999
Major Sept. 30, 2004
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 30, 2009
Colonel April 1, 2014
Brigadier General June 1, 2017
(Current as of September 2020)