ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (Sept. 2, 2014) -- Pantego, Texas native and University of Texas at Arlington graduate Daniel P. Hughes was promoted to the rank of U.S. Army Major General on Sept. 2.
Hughes, 54, serves as the Army's Program Executive Officer for Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T), responsible for providing Soldiers with radios, software applications, satellite systems and other network tools they need to communicate on the battlefield. Hughes took command of PEO C3T on Sept. 4, 2013, championing his vision of "simplify, simplify" -- making the Army's secure network as easy to use as the commercial network and devices Soldiers rely on in their everyday lives.
"Who's ever been to an iPhone training course?" Hughes said. "By simplifying the Army network, we can deliver Soldiers more information, more quickly, while helping them keep their focus on the mission."
Soldiers serving in Afghanistan have called the Army tactical network their "digital guardian angel" because it allowed them to safely cover more ground with fewer troops. Now, as the U.S. continues to withdraw troops from Afghanistan and the Army transforms into a smaller, more expeditionary force, the service is working to enhance the future network so it is robust and versatile enough to support a broad range of potential military operations.
"Over the next 10 years, commercial communications technology will continue to revolutionize the way people and governments interact, and to change the way our enemies think," Hughes said. "While the Army has technologies today that we never envisioned in the past, we still face a huge challenge to retain information dominance going forward. I'm honored to have the opportunity to lead that effort."
Hughes' promotion to Major General was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 25, 2014. He received his second star on Sept. 2.
One of six children of Dan and Ness Hughes of Pantego, Texas, Hughes was issued an Army I.D. card at birth and grew up immersed in Army values. His father served in World War II and Korea, earning a Silver Star. Hughes was commissioned in Field Artillery from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1983. He later served in Operations Desert Shield and Storm as the Fire Direction Officer of the 75th Field Artillery Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps and VII Corps.
"My parents ingrained in us the importance of selfless service to the nation, and it was a natural progression for me to join the Army," Hughes said. "After serving in line units in Desert Storm, it became a passion to make everyday Soldiers' lives better through the capability we bring them."
Following Desert Storm, Hughes was assigned to the Army Acquisition Corps and served in numerous positions including as a Communications Systems Engineer on the MILSTAR Satellite Program, Deputy System Engineer on the PATRIOT Missile Project, Assistant Product Manager Deep Strike for the Project Office, Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems, and as Product Director of the Balkan Digitization and Blue Force Tracking, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Other assignments built his expertise with the Army's network and mission command portfolio. In the early 2000s, he served as the Product Manager for Fire Support, leading the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) through two Army Digital Capstone Exercises, two operational tests and a deployment to Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2005, he assumed the charter for the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Ground Domain, where he was responsible for the development of the Army's next-generation voice and data radios, including the Handheld, Manpack, Small Form Fit (HMS) program.
In 2011, Hughes was assigned as the Director of System of Systems Integration (SoSI), Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)). He oversaw ASA(ALT) involvement in the Network Integration Evaluations (NIEs), the Army's groundbreaking process to integrate network technologies across the Brigade Combat Team, and accelerate and improve the way these technologies are delivered to Soldiers. Following his tenure at SoSI, Hughes served a dual assignment as Deputy Commanding General of the Army's Research, Development and Engineering Command and Commanding General of Natick Soldier Systems Center, responsible for researching, developing, fielding, and managing food, clothing, shelters, airdrop systems and Soldier support items.
Hughes earned a master of business administration degree from Oklahoma City University and a master of science degree in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University. He is also a graduate of the Field Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
His military awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Space and Missile Badge and Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge.
Hughes is married with two grown children. He often cites his daughter, a college student at Virginia Tech who expects intuitive and seamless access to information at home, in her dorm room and on her mobile devices, as an example of what current and future Soldiers deserve on the battlefield.
"Tomorrow's commanders and Soldiers are today's college, high school, even middle school students -- digital natives who have never known a world without the Internet and are used to instant access and constant collaboration," he said. "The systems we deliver need to pass the Kimberly Hughes test."
Related Links:
Soldiers test changes to Army's mobile network that make it easier to use
Social Sharing