Foil: 10 Panel: F100 Super Sabre Society Column: 1 Line: 61

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Bio for Dean F Vikan, Colonel, USAF (Retired), member of The Red River Valley Fighter Pilot's Association - aka "The River Rats"

Colonel Vikan is a 1960 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. In October 1962, he was assigned to Kadena AB, Okinawa in the F-100 transitioning to the F-105 in early 1963 - his mission was cold war nuclear alert. In December 1964, he started temporary duty (TDY) tours in South East Asia (SEA) flying combat missions in the F-105 "Thud" from bases in Thailand with targets in North Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. He continued TDY to SEA and nuclear alert at Kadena until June 1967.
On his return to the States, he attended the USAF Test Pilot School - Class 67B with a follow-on assignment in weapons testing at Eglin AFB, FL. In June 1970, he was reassigned to SEA to complete his combat tour in the F-105. By October 1970, he had flown 68 combat missions -"counters" - without taking a hit. Upon returning to the States, he was assigned to the USAF Test Pilot School as an instructor in the F-104, NF-104, T-38 and T-33 aircraft.
In 1973, Colonel Vikan received his master's degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology. From there he did a tour in the Pentagon Research & Development Directorate. He went on to fly the A-10 at Myrtle Beach AFB, SC as the Assistant Director of Operations which was his last operational flying assignment. His next tour was at HQ USAF Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany followed by a tour as Commander, 40th Tactical Group at Aviano AB, Italy. His last assignment was back in the U.S. at Wright Patterson AFB, OH as the Deputy Program Manager for Logistics in the F-16 System Program Office. Colonel Vikan retired from the US Air Force in June 1985.
His decorations include Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross w/One Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal w/One Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal w/One Silver and One Bronze Device, AF Commendation Medal w/One Oak Leaf Cluster, AF Outstanding Unit Award w/One Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/One Service Star, AF Overseas Long Tour Ribbon, AF Longevity Service Award Ribbon w/One Silver and One Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Upon entering civilian life, Colonel Vikan went to work for Lockheed Martin Corporation in Burbank, California assigned to the F-22 stealth fighter program for six years. In 1991, Lockheed moved Colonel Vikan along with the F-22 program to Marietta, Georgia and Vikan was with the F-22 for another six years. Vikan retired from this second career in February 1997.
Following his retirement from Lockheed Martin in Georgia, he moved to Fosston, Minnesota where he currently resides. Since arriving in 1997, Vikan has been Director for Economic Development, owner, editor and publisher of The Thirteen Towns newspaper, President of the East Polk Heritage Center in Fosston, President of the Minnesota Historic Northwest Consortium, a member of Rotary Club of Fosston, a member of the Fosston-Lengby Lions Club, Chairman of the First Care Medical Services $500,000 capital campaign committee and a member of the Fosston Area Community Fund. In his spare time, he pursues his hobby in photography.
Mrs. Vikan passed away on 5 July 2013.
Dean and his late wife Phyllis have two children, 11 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.