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Failure Not an Option: A Cold War Memoir from Nuclear Crisis to Senior Federal Law Enforcement Officer by Bob Hicks is now available, revealing the extraordinary true story of a man whose 43-year career spanned the most critical moments in modern American defense. Hicks’s journey is as diverse as going from a low-ranking airman whose job was to recover a nuclear warhead that had fallen off its mount on an ICBM missile to a senior manager of the civil service with the highest rank who was fighting the fraud of defense contractors and also in charge of coordinating the response to 9/11. The ride depicted in this memoir is from a brave and honest person who has not only been service-filled but also has constantly been practically guided by his saying, “Failure is not an option.”

The book with all its thrilling parts is no other than a memoir that will allow the audience to see through the curtains hiding the costs and sacrifices that were totally incurred by the ones, who at that time, were standing between the United States and both the external enemies (the Cold War) and internal ones (corruption and terrorism) at the same time.

The Ultimate Test of Resolve: Solving a Nuclear Crisis

Hicks’s career began in 1963, a journey he started with little more than his Somerset High School diploma and the bedrock values instilled in him by his tight-knit Texas family and community. After specialized training in nuclear weapons maintenance at Lowry AFB, his first assignment thrust him into a moment of catastrophic crisis at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. Hicks, a young airman, was called to respond to an incident when a 1.2 megaton thermonuclear warhead accidentally fell off a Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic missile. Thousands of people and national security were at risk. Hicks, the lowest ranking man on scene, depended on his training and fast decision-making, devised a recovery plan that had never been executed before. After the flawless plan was executed, Hicks drove the semi over 75 miles to secure the extensively damaged warhead. This defining incident earned him trust and responsibility far exceeding his rank, cementing his legendary professional standard.

“When you’re facing a situation where a single misstep could mean devastation, you quickly learn that hesitation is not an option. That moment transporting a damaged nuclear warhead over 75 miles, set the tone for every challenge that followed in my career,” says Hicks. “The motto, ‘Failure is Not an Option,’ wasn’t just a slogan; it became the only acceptable operational principle.”

From Uniformed Service to Federal Investigation

Hicks’s demonstrated expertise led him to advance rapidly through the Air Force ranks, where he gained specialized training in bomb disposal and served with the elite Strategic Air Command Maintenance Standardization and Evaluation team, including participation in classified missions during the Vietnam-era in Guam.

However, the second half of his career focused on dismantling threats from within. Hicks transitioned to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) and broke new ground as a Chief Master Sergeant and Senior Federal Law Enforcement Officer. His work involved directing international investigations with great risk and with great value:

• He operated undercover a record three years with agents from the FBI and managed to reveal defense contractors that were supplying flawed, dangerous aircraft parts to the Air Force and civilian airlines.
• He was at the center of major terrorist events in Germany, like the Ramstein bombing and the Dozier kidnapping, thus proving his ability to control crises even under very high pressure.
• As a leading civilian Special Agent in Charge, Hicks carried out investigations throughout the entire west coast into the most complicated fraud cases against contractors including ‘Titan missiles’ and the ‘B-2 Stealth Bomber’ among other major investigations. Many millions of dollars in fraudulently obtained money were recovered because of such actions.

The memoir ends with Hicks handling national security ground responses during the terrible 9/11 terrorist attacks, which serves as a significant conclusion to his lengthy career.

“The public often sees the military in external conflict, but protecting the nation also means ensuring that those building our defense systems are doing so with integrity,” Hicks explains. “This book is about those who operate in the shadows, the ones who defend against both foreign threats and those who would profit from American security.”

The Somerset Foundation: Integrity and Sacrifice

The memoir is also a deeply personal narrative, tracing Hicks’s character back to his childhood in rural Somerset, Texas. He details how the values of integrity, respect, and community service were instilled by mentors like Superintendent Bill James and his Korean War Marine FFA teacher, Kenneth Taylor.

Above all, The book extends a sincere apology to his family in a heartfelt and retrospective manner. In the preface, Hicks dedicates the book to his wife Janet and sons Robert and Jeffery, thereby disclosing the details of his complex professional life which he had promised do at the appropriate time.

“When you were young, you often asked about my job and why I was away so much,” Hicks writes in the preface. “My career was one I loved, but it came at a cost; too many times without a dad at home… I’m sorry for that. This is not to justify those choices, but to keep my promise to tell you.”

The book Failure Not an Option provides evidence that the rank of a person does not decide his or her quality of leadership but rather, it’s the character of a person that does. The life and career of Hicks, highlighted by his entry into the OSI Hall of Fame in 2013, are a great source of inspiration for all those who serve the public with dedication.

About the Author

From Cold War nuclear weapons specialist to deep undercover agent combating terrorism, Bob Hicks shaped a remarkable 40-year career in federal law enforcement. As a senior OSI agent, he led investigations that reclaimed hundreds of millions from fraud. This legacy of service earned him a place in the OSI Hall of Fame. Today, he is retired in his home state of Texas, dedicated to family, church and community in Cibolo, TX. Amazon Website

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