Jeffrey William Hughes (born 1966) is a United States Navy vice admiral who served as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Development of the United States Navy from 2021 to 2024.

Early life

Hughes was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.United states Navy Biography: "Rear Admiral Jeffrey W. Hughes, Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 2
retrieved September 30, 2017 In 1988, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from

Duke University Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day city of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco and electric power industrialist James ...

and then graduated with distinction with a Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, with full Joint Professional Military Education credit.

Naval career

In September 1989, Hughes was designated a naval aviator, flying MH-60R and SH-60B Seahawk helicopters. He served as squadron and detachment officer with the Swamp Foxes of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 44 where he deployed on the , the and the in support of Strike Group deployments with the and . In 1993, Hughes was named HSL-44 (now

HSM-74 Helicopter Maritime Strike Seven Four (HSM-74), the "Swamp Foxes", is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida. HSM-74 is attached to Carrier Air Wing Three and deploys aboard cruise ...

) Pilot of the Year and was the co-recipient of the Commanding Officer's Helmsman Award. Hughes served as the flag lieutenant to commander for Carrier Group 4 on all six East Coast aircraft carriers. He then served as the executive officer and the 14th commanding officer of the Fighting Vipers of HSL-48 (now HSM-48). In 2007, he received the Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing, United States Atlantic Fleet Navy and Marine Association peer-selected leadership award. He also served as the commander, Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing, United States Pacific Fleet. In his first flag assignment, he served as the commander, Navy Recruiting Command. On July 21, 2017, he was appointed as commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 2. On September 24, 2017, Hughes' command, Expeditionary Strike Group Kearsarge which included the amphibious assault ship and the dock landing ship along with the 2,400 marines of

26th Marine Expeditionary Unit The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (26th MEU) is one of seven such units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. It is an air-ground task force with a strength of about 2,400 personnel when at full strength during a deployment. ...

, deployed off the coast of Puerto Rico to coordinate naval relief efforts after Hurricane Maria.Washington Post: "Puerto Rico governor: ‘We still need some more help’ from Washington" by Ed O'Keefe
September 24, 2017Stars & Stripes: "Military conducting multiple operations to help Hurricane Maria-struck Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands" By Corey Dickstein
September 25, 2017 The ships had previously been prepositioned to the south of the island to assist in the recovery efforts once the hurricane had passed. In March 2018, Hughes assumed command of Navy Personnel Command and became Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel. On November 12, 2020, he was nominated for promotion to vice admiral and assignment as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Development. On December 14, 2020, his nomination was confirmed by voice vote of the full United States Senate. In May 2023, he was nominated for assignment as the deputy chief of staff for capability development of Allied Command Transformation. Hughes' decorations include the

Navy Distinguished Service Medal The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military decoration of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919 and is presented to sailors and Marines to recognize distinguished and exceptionally meritoriou ...

Defense Superior Service Medal The Defense Superior Service Medal (DSSM) is a military decoration of the United States Department of Defense, which is presented to United States Armed Forces service members who perform superior meritorious service in a position of significant ...

, the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...

(four awards), and the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards).

References

, - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Hughes, Jeffrey W. 1966 births Living people Place of birth missing (living people) Duke University Pratt School of Engineering alumni United States Naval Aviators Naval War College alumni Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States) Recipients of the Legion of Merit United States Navy admirals Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal