R.D. Dickens is a member of the Chickasaw Nation. He served in the United States Navy, where he was stationed at NAS Oceana Virginia Beach, Virginia with Attack Squadron 35. While at VA-35, he became a plane captain and was in charge of pre- and post-flight inspections of the A-6E Intruder Aircraft. His squadron was part of USS Saratoga CV-60 air wing. After his military service, he worked for Sysco Food Services and Jacks Merchandising as warehouse receiving lead. R.D. also was a child protection worker for the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma and the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma from 2005-2010. He received his associate’s degree in business from the Oklahoma City Community College in 2005.
R.D. is currently the Youth Services Director for the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board. His other duties include being a member on the Oklahoma Inter-Tribal Diabetes Coalition (OIDC) and the current president of the Native Youth for Preventing Diabetes (NYPD) coalition camp for non-profit organizations. R.D. has a passion for working with youth and enjoys ministering to them. He served as a youth pastor at Kentucky Ave. Baptist Church from July 2000 to 2013. He now serves as a worship leader for 412 Ministries youth praise and worship band and is a Sunday School teacher for the 7th and 8th grade boys at Regency Park Baptist Church.
R.D. has been married to his wife Kellie for 18 years and they have one son, Jacob Dickens, who is their pride and joy.