Jim Hickman was a prominent member of the Global Community, who shortly after Leon Fortunato's promotion to the role of High Reverend Father of Carpathianism was himself promoted to the role of Supreme Commander, though with less authority than Fortunato. Being new to the role, Hickman was rather ambitious about trying to please his superiors, which got himself and Ramon Santiago in trouble when he overheard Nicolae Carpathia's plans to sacrifice a pig on the altar of the Temple in Jerusalem, resulting in Santiago's death at the hands of Carpathia. Burdened with more guilt than he could personally handle, Hickman soon after committed suicide.