Chief Warrant Officer Hilbish grew up in the small midwestern town of Tallmadge, Ohio and enlisted in the Navy in September 1975. He served aboard the USS DUBUQUE (LPD-8) as a leading seaman in Deck Department prior to being accepted to Electronic Warfare "A" school in January of 1977. Upon completing "A" school, he was assigned to the USS TURNER JOY (DD-951) as a 3rd class Electronic Warfare Technician. In November of 1980, EW2 Hilbish was hand-picked for assignment to a CNO Special Project, Correctional Custody Facility Coronado, CA. as a counselor/supervisor working for the current LDO/Warrant Program manager CDR Jerry Hart. EW1 Hilbish transferred to Electronic Warfare "C' school Pensacola, Florida in 1982, where he worked as an instructor and received recognition as a Navy Master Training Specialist in addition to obtaining his Bachelors Degree in Electronics Management from Troy State University, Troy Alabama in 1985. Chief Petty Officer Hilbish reported onboard USS JOUETT (CG-29) in January 1986 as the Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) and Command Career Counselor.

Commissioned in January of 1989, Chief Warrant Officer Hilbish served onboard USS OGDEN (LPD-5) as the Electronic Materials Officer (EMO)/EWO during the Alaskan oil spill operations in Valdez and operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Additionally, he served as the Communication Security Materials Systems Officer (CMS). Assigned to the Afloat Training Group in 1992, he served as the Combat Systems Administrative assistant and trained U.S. and NATO ships as Training Liaison Officer(TLO). Reporting to Special Boat Unit TWENTY-SIX (SBU-26) in October 1994 as the unit's Assistant Maintenance Officer, Electronic Materials Officer, Communications Officer, Safety Officer, and CMS Custodian, he assisted in the Cuban migrant operations. Reporting to US Southern Command in October of 1996 as the Communications/Electronics Systems Manager, he assisted with SOUTHCOM's move from Panama to the current headquarters in Miami Florida. His last active duty assignment was at the Information Systems Officer (ISO) School, Newport, R.I. as an instructor. Retiring on 25 June of 1999 after 24 years of service, CWO4(Ret.) Hilbish first worked for the City of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio as the Assistant Information Services Manager and currently is the Information Systems Manager for the City of Hudson, Ohio.

Chief Warrant Officer Hilbish is a qualified Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) and Tactical Action Officer (TAO). He wears the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (2) and Combat Action Ribbon. He is married to the former Josephine Ann Underwood of Tom's River, New Jersey. They have a daughter Samantha (7), a son Charles (11), and a daughter Amanda(24).