After college, Hickerson joined the United States Foreign Service.

In 1940, Hickerson became secretary of the American section of the newly formed Permanent Joint Board on Defense.

[1] In 1949, President of the United States Harry Truman nominated Hickerson as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs and Hickerson held this office from June 24, 1949, until July 27, 1953.

Mr. Hickerson was a regular lecturer at the School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University and served on the board of directors of the Atlantic Council.

Survivors includes his son, John H. Hickerson, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.