In 2001, 7 days after graduating top 10 of his class with an Academic Diploma from Chattahoochee High Magnet School, he left for Parris Island, SC to become a U.S. Marine.  Upon graduating Basic Training while attending Marine Combat Training (MCT) the attacks of “9-11” occurred.  It was at this moment Mr. Dickens faced the fact that his patriotism would be put the ultimate test and he immediately decided that he was ready for the challenge.  After graduating from Military Occupational School as an M1A1 Tank crewman in Ft. Knox, Kentucky, he returned home to reside in Greenwood, FL for good.  While integrating back into civilian life he attended TCC then later transferred to Chipola College while working various small jobs.  The summer of 2003 he went on his first deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  His unit, C Co. 8th Tank Battalion, deployed to the Horn of Africa and took post as 1st Provisional Security Company securing the base of Camp Lemonier in Djibouti, Africa.  

Returning home, his unit was reorganized and transitioned to – E Co. Antiterrorism Force Protection where he finished his last 3 years.  He then met the love of his life, Ashley Moore, while attending Chipola College and in 2009 they married.  Shortly after they welcomed the birth of their first child, son Byron Dickens, Jr.  He joined the U.S. Army Reserve as an air traffic controller one year prior in 2008.  In January 2012, 5 days after the birth of their twin daughters, Ariah and Arielle Dickens, he left for his second deployment with the 2-58th Airfield Operations Battalion to Camp Buerhing, Kuwait providing air traffic operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  

After returning home he received an Associate of Arts Degree in Multidisciplinary Studies at Grantham University.  He then went on to rise from the position of Facility Chief to acting First Sergeant and the Senior Supervisor over all Unit Staff Functions; which include S1 Administration, S2 Security, S3 Operations, S4 Logistics, etc.  In May of 2016 he and his wife welcomed the arrival of their second set of twins, Bryson and Arianna Dickens.    

Shortly after in September of 2016 his unit 2-58th Aviation Regiment (Airfield Operations) inactivated and reorganized into two separate air traffic services companies.  During the transition he performed a myriad of duties building and establishing the new F Co 7-158th Aviation Regiment.  He single handedly led the training for all functional and non-functional areas for this new Air Traffic Services Company.  As a result of his leadership and dedication, his unit successfully passed all inspections and deployment readiness requirements.

In addition to being a great leader he is also one of only a select few subject matter experts regarding Air Traffic Services procedures and standardizations in the entire U.S. Army Reserves.  He has also developed numerous innovative and effective training programs, managed hundreds of thousands of dollars in budgets, budget acquisition and dissemination, built and established relationships with organizations both within and far outside of his organizational structure.  One key relationship he established was coordinating strong ties between F Co 7-158th Aviation Regiment and the City of Marianna providing all Air Traffic Services for the Annual Armed Forces Day Fly-In as well as conducting numerous missions. 

History and patriotism holds a special place in Mr. Dickens’ heart.  Therefore his other community projects include creating a non-profit organization called The Emancipation Day Festival of Northwest Florida, Inc. where the focus is honoring the history of Emancipation Day and creating a family-centered community engagement for all.  On July 9, 2019 he was able to receive a unanimous 5-0 vote from the BOCC to proclaim May 20th as Emancipation Day.  He then went even further.  On October 15, 2019 he went before the Jackson County School Board and received another 5-0 unanimous vote adopting his “Freedom Month Observance” Resolution.  This observance designates the entire month of May to enrich, expand, and observe the holidays of Armed Forces Day, Emancipation Day, and Memorial Day throughout every grade level and every school in the Jackson County School District.  He has also written the 1st and only Children’s book on Florida’s Emancipation Day entitled “May Day and Me! Celebrating Florida’s Emancipation Day”.   

In addition to his active and reserve military career he has worked most of his civilian career with the Florida Department of Corrections at both Apalachee and Jackson Correctional Institution to the rank of Sergeant.  His primary experience was working with maximum housing level inmates in confinement, open-bay, and close quarter settings as well as being a member of Apalachee Correctional Institution’s Rapid Response Team.

Since his 2020 campaign, Mr. Dickens has been extremely diligent earning 2 degrees in 2 years.  He has earned both his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Degree and Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree at the University of Arkansas Grantham.  He has continued to publicly speak to the youth and various communities throughout the panhandle.  He has worked with the Florida Department of Veteran Affairs along with multiple Veteran organizations to bring aid and assistance to our local veterans. He is currently in the works to build an Emancipation History Museum in Jackson County at Endeavor Park.  He has partnered with the County and is now looking forward to working with community members throughout the area to establish a task force to begin groundwork for his museum and other projects.  To add even more to his dedicated willingness to his community he is now a 5th grade ELA & History Teacher for Malone School shaping the young minds of tomorrow.  To follow his campaign please follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/votebyrondickens.