Bruce Wicks

Bruce Wicks, D-3493, is one of those rare individuals who sees a void in leadership and immediately steps in to set things straight. With a nearly 30-year career in the military, he commanded the training of thousands of airborne soldiers at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Wicks then went on to coach and inspire dozens of members of the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights. As commander of the Knights’ style and accuracy and 4-way and 8-way formation skydiving teams, he oversaw the training that led to 13 team members winning national and world championships. Wicks was team leader of the U.S. Team that competed at the world championships in Sweden in 1988. Four years later, he again was team leader for the U.S. Team competing in Austria.

Wicks also had a stellar career as a judge in national and international events, traveling to competitions held in far-flung locations from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates to Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey and several other nations. A high point in his career came during the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, where he was one of the main architects in putting together one of the greatest demos in skydiving history: the Olympic Rings formation live feed at the opening ceremonies, which millions around the world saw.