Randal Hickman to strengthen operations research program
The Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering at Kansas State University proudly welcomed Randal Hickman as an associate professor in the spring 2025 semester.
A K-State doctoral alumnus and a retired U.S. Army officer, Hickman brings a wealth of experience in operations research, academic leadership and mentorship, enriching both the department and the broader university community.
Hickman’s academic journey began with a bachelor’s in systems engineering from West Point in 1997. He later earned a master’s in operations research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2005 and completed his doctorate in the K-State IMSE department in 2014.
During his doctoral studies, he collaborated closely with IMSE faculty, including Todd Easton, whose mentorship significantly shaped his research direction.
“I knew that I wanted to join the faculty at a strong research university after retiring from the Army, and the supportive culture at K-State and IMSE reminded me of the close ties between faculty and staff at West Point's academic departments,” Hickman said.
Hickman retired from the U.S. Army in February 2025 with nearly 28 years of service. His military service includes:
- Assignments with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC, and battery command at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
- A key role at the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas, including a 12-month deployment to Iraq where he oversaw the distribution of U.S. government reconstruction funding in southern Iraq along with other duties.
- Faculty roles at West Point from 2005–2008 and 2014–2021, during which he directed the stochastics education program for three years, contributed to course development in both the Department of Mathematical Sciences and the Department of Systems Engineering, and mentored junior faculty and cadets.
- Service at the Army Cyber Institute, where he directed cybersecurity research across various sectors including government, utilities, and banking.
- His final military assignment at The Research and Analysis Center (TRAC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he led teams of engineers in developing decision support tools for military modernization decision cycles.
Hickman’s research focuses on decision-support tools in highly stochastic environments, particularly those involving trade-offs between maximizing outcomes and minimizing risks. This fall, he is teaching a course in stochastic optimization, a subject that directly aligns with his professional background and research interests.
He brings with him an emphasis on application-oriented, principled methods to solve real-world problems — a perspective grounded in both his military and academic experiences.
Hickman said mentorship has been a cornerstone of his leadership philosophy.
“The best leaders not only accomplish organizational goals but also prepare the next generation to fill their shoes,” he said.
At West Point, Hickman prioritized mentorship, both for students preparing to become military officers and for junior faculty learning the ropes of academic service. At K-State, he plans to continue this dedication.
“I hope to offer a valuable and diverse background to provide a new perspective during mentorship opportunities at K-State,” Hickman said. “While I am among the newer members of the faculty, I look forward to mentoring both students and junior faculty alike.”
Hickman’s personal life reflects his values of service and community. He is the father of five children — two are grown and working in their professional careers, two are currently in college studying meteorology and biology, and his youngest is in middle school. He is an active Scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts of America and enjoys camping and outdoor activities with his son’s troop.