Our mission is to convey the true "Cost" of Freedom and defense of human rights, and honor those who gave the precious miracle of their lives to ensure them for current and future generations

Meet our founder

Hospice milestones

WWC - AIDS

In 2016, Jim Dicus created an aviation life-cycle cost control tool and process that helped take the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Tactical Program from over-budget and behind schedule to saving $500 million in 15 months. An accomplishment recognized by Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter as National Cost and Innovation Award Winner and leveraged across NAVAIRSYSCOM to ensure the affordability of numerous programs. Recruited by PMA-275's V-22 Osprey Joint Program Office to establish a TF/TA radar program USSOCOM deemed 10 years behind schedule he secured technical data rights for the first time in program history then identified a DoD contracting entity best suited to compete the radar RFP breaking the OEM vendor lock exerted over the V-22 JPO for 30 years. A milestone resulting in millions saved in pass-through costs and reduced integration timelines and enabling competition across all V-22 variants earning him an "Excellence in Acquisition" Award from AF Major General Keye Sabol. His collaboration with USSOCOM engineer Jim Simon proving ethernet a requirement for SKR functionality served as the model for expansion and modernization of V-22 Avionics. His successful resolution of NAVAIR MIL-STD-2131 saved the CV program millions in logistics while maintaining mission readiness. When SKR PDR revealed a radar signal versus cockpit display incompatibility estimated at a $12 - $15M cost overrun and 16-month delay to Flight Test, Dicus proposed in-house solution of utilizing an HDRM asset in the cockpit via a cable from the TIP resolved the issue at no cost, earning a "Technical Excellence" Award personally presented by 3 Star AF General Robert McMurray, Jr. In addition to managing the TF/TA Radar program, in addition to managing the radar programs, he was progressively assigned 15 additional V-22 Sensor programs, receiving the "Owning the Osprey" Award in July 2024 for saving $11.5M and 14 months on the VSLED by utilizing the precedents established with the SKR acquisition. He was the 5th program manager in 2 years responsible for ensuring adherence to a Congressional Cockpit Voice Recorder Mandate, and his successful acquisition strategy paid tribute to USMC Lt Col John Brow, his wife Trisha, and their two sons. Since 2015, Dicus has saved the U.S. Government and American taxpayers over $1 Billion USD. His career accolades also include mentoring 3 consecutive USSOCOM Officers of the Year, promoting military co-worker Justin Wilson to the rank of Major, and hosting military colleagues for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. He organized Super Bowl parties and fishing trips for teammates returning from OCONUS assignments and served as the keynote speaker for some of the oldest living veterans from America’s service academies.

In Fall 2025, he made the choice to leave the comfort of his job to devote himself to creating a documentary honoring his community’s KIA/MIA veterans. "While leaving a steady income has been somewhat stressful for myself and my family (including my dogs), what is more important than honoring those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom? Absolutely NOTHING. The title of the documentary, "Happy Young Americans," is inspired by a letter home from Leonardtown’s Tommy Shadrick in 1943 - just before his B-17 flying fortress named "De-Icer" was tragically lost in the South Pacific. Using Tommy's words serves as a poignant reminder of the ultimate sacrifice he made 82 years ago. I feel a deep connection and responsibility to all of these young men. They gave their lives for me; it is MY DUTY to honor their sacrifice."

He has been a hospice volunteer for 30 years and co-founded Runforhospice.org with his brothers Jamie and Jeff Thomas of Leonardtown, an initiative that has successfully raised over $1 Million for Hospice of St. Mary’s County.

He also wrote the Foreword for artist Christina Allen’s recently published autobiography, "Christina L. Allen; Artist; Gardener; Mentor," which is available at www.corncribstudio.com and on Amazon.

Ray Vickery, Jr.

Contributor

Meet our founder

Hospice milestones

WWC - AIDS

In 2016 Jim Dicus led a team selected by Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter as National 'Excellence in Acquisition, Should Cost & Innovation" Winners for taking the E2D Hawkeye Tactical Program Office from "Worst to First" documenting $500 million savings in 15 months— strategies then leveraged across NAVAIR to improve the affordability of multiple programs. Recruited by V-22 Program Manager Pamela Wilson to stand up a radar program USSOCOM deemed 10 years behind schedule, he secured technical data rights for the first time in program history. When NAVAIR Contracts didn't have bandwidth to support the SKR acquisition, Dicus identified and secured a DoD contracting organization best suited to compete the radar RFP. Leading a team that included Capt Jazmyn Hyman, Dr. Philip Mock, Omar Jabr, CDR Scott Novinger, Henry Abell, breaking a vendor-lock the OEM had exerted over the V-22 Program Office for 30 years. A historic milestone saving millions in pass-through costs and 2 years on integration - opening the door to competition on all V-22 variants and warranting an "Excellence in Acquisition" Award from AF Major General Keye Sabol. His collaboration with USSOCOM engineer Jim Simon proving ethernet a requirement for SKR functionality to NAVAIR software engineers served as the model for V-22 Avionics expansion and modernization. His successful relief of NAVAIR MIL-STD-2131 saved the CV program millions in logistics while ensuring mission readiness. When the contractor revealed a radar signal vs. cockpit display incompatibility at PDR estimated as a $12 - $15M cost overrun and 16-month delay to Flight Test, Dicus proposed solution of utilizing an in-house HDRM asset in the cockpit via a cable from the TIP solved the problem for $0 earning a "Technical Excellence" Award personally presented by 3 Star AF General Robert McMurray, Jr. In addition to SKR, he managed 15 additional V-22 Sensor programs and earned an "Owning the Osprey" Award July 2024 for saving $11.5M & 14 months schedule on VSLED parlaying the precedent he established with SKR. When he became the 5th program manager in 2 years tasked with ensuring compliance to a Congressional Cockpit Voice Recorder Mandate, his successful acquisition strategy was dedicated to the honor of USMC Lt Col John Brow, wife Trisha and their two sons - self described as "the best work of his career". Since 2015 Dicus has saved the U.S. Government and American taxpayer over $1 Billion USD. His career highlights include mentoring 3 consecutive USSOCOM Officers of the Year, promoting military co-worker Justin Wilson to rank of Major, hosting military teammates for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter. He has hosted Super Bowl parties and fishing outings for teammates returning from OCONUS assignments, and has been keynote speaker in addressing some of the oldest living veterans of America's service academies.

In Fall of 2025 he made the decision to leave the security of his job to focus on creating a documentary about his community's KIA/MIA veterans. "Leaving a steady income has been a little stressful for me and my family, (and my dogs), but what is more important than honoring those who gave the precious miracle of their lives to ensure freedom for us? NOTHING. The title inspiration of the documentary "Happy Young Americans" comes from Leonardtown's Tommy Shadrick in a letter home to his mother in 1943 - days before his B-17 flying fortress christened "De-Icer" was lost in the South Pacific. Using Tommy's words is a way of him naming the documentary 82 years after he made the ultimate sacrifice. I feel a connection and an obligation to ALL of these boys. They gave their lives for me . Its MY RESPONSIBILITY to honor their sacrifice".

The 33 year hospice volunteer and co-founder of Runforhospice.org was recognized 28 July 2026 with co-founding brothers Jamie and Jeff Thomas of Leonardtown with a Proclamation from the St. Mary's County Commissioners for 29 years of serving the residents of St. Mary's County an event that has raised over $1 Million dollars for Hospice of St. Mary's County.

He wrote the Foreword to artist Christina Allen's recently published Autobiography "Christina L. Allen; Artist; Gardener; Mentor" available at www.corncribstudio.com and Amazon.