About Us

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Founder

Medically Retired U.S. Army Green Beret

Robert Hickey is a medically retired Green Beret who served over 12 years in the U.S. Army Special Forces as an 18C (Special Forces Engineer Sergeant). He holds a bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of Cincinnati and led small teams across multiple combat deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and Africa. His experience includes mission planning,

partner force advising, and operating in resource-limited, high-risk environments.

Robert has firsthand experience with prolonged field care scenarios, having provided care and coordinated resources far from conventional medical support. This operational background gives him deep insight into the real-world medical needs of warfighters during missions. After medically retiring from the military, Robert founded Charlie Two One LLC, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) dedicated to introducing advanced medical technologies-such as biologics, surgical implants, and wound care solutions-into the military and VA healthcare systems.

In addition to leading Charlie Two One, Robert works in the private medical device sector, supporting hospital case coverage and surgical planning alongside a senior distributor with more

than 25 years of experience.

Partner 

Medical Device Strategist & Distributor

Jay Hodgkin brings more than 20 years of experience in the medical device industry, specializing in spinal implants, orthopedic biologics, and surgical instrumentation. He holds both a Bachelor's in Business Administration and a Master of Public Administration from Valdosta State University. Jay began his career in spine and orthopedic sales in 2007 and has since led the growth of multiple companies, including ECM Partners, Absolute Advantage Medical, and Pineland Medical Products. His work spans all aspects of distribution and commercialization, from managing FDA 510(k) product development to overseeing hospital inventory and supporting more than 1,300 spine surgeries annually.

He has negotiated contracts with major hospital systems, consulted on two Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) trials, and helped develop implant systems that entered the market with no existing predicate devices. Jay is known for his ability to work directly with surgeons to tailor implant solutions that aren't confined to a single manufacturer's offerings.

At Charlie Two One LLC, Jay leads strategic product alignment and market development, ensuring that next-generation medical technologies are positioned for success in both military and civilian healthcare systems.

Partner 

Medically Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major (Special Forces)

Ronnie Blackburn is a medically retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major who served 21 years in the Special Forces. He wrestled at The Ohio State University on a Division I scholarship before joining the U.S. Army through the World Class Athlete Program and later earned a place in the Special Forces community.

He deployed 13 times to Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and North Africa, and completed numerous training and advisory missions across Europe and Asia. With extensive operational time spent in prolonged field care environments, Ronnie has treated and managed injuries in some of the world's most resource-limited settings. His real-world experience in battlefield medicine offers critical insight into the medical requirements faced by deployed units.

Ronnie has completed advanced medical and tactical training and brings deep operational insight from years of frontline leadership. As a partner at Charlie Two One LLC, he helps evaluate and integrate next-generation medical technologies that improve outcomes for service members and veterans.