Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Christopher Hughes

By AMY TURNEROctober 6, 2022

2022 Hall of Fame Inductee

Northwest Missouri State University (1983)

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Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Christopher Hughes is a native of Red Oak, Iowa. He has a B.S. in Political Science from Northwest Missouri State University, an M.A. in Business Management from Webster University, an M.S. in National Strategic Studies from the National Defense University and has earned an Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from Northwest Missouri State University.

His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, the Army Command and General Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College, and is a Distinguished Graduate of the National War College.

His  assignments include service as the Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center – Education (CAC-E) and the Deputy Commandant, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC), the 4th Infantry Division, two tours with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the Joint Readiness Training Center. He has also seen service in the Pacific as a War Planner for United States Army Pacific Command (USARPAC) and with the Deployable Joint Task Force Augmentation Cell at United States Pacific Command (USPACOM).

His key troop leading assignments include; Battalion and Brigade S3 with the 25th Infantry Division (Light), Commander of 2-327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, Commander of Joint Task Force Bravo in Honduras and as the Deputy Commanding General (DCG) (Maneuver and Support) for the 3d Infantry Division and as the DCG Operations for Regional Command South, Afghanistan.

Key staff assignments include Executive Officer to the Secretary of the Army, Chief of the Army Liaison Division to the U.S. House of Representatives, Washington DC, Operations Officer for the Army Initiatives Group G-3/5/7 and as an Operations Officer for the J34 Combating Terrorism Directorate Joint Staff Washington DC, where he served as the Investigating Officer for the USS Cole Commission and the Chief of Army Current Operations (DAMO-ODO) G-3/5/7, the Pentagon.

His last assignment before retirement was to serve as the Commanding General of U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox from May of 2016 to May of 2018.

Hughes retired from the Army in July of 2018 with over 35 years of service.

Hughes’ primary awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (2 OLC), Bronze Star Medal (OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Meritorious Service Medal (6 OLC), the Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Joint Staff Identification Badge, Army Staff Badge and numerous foreign Airborne Wings. He is also a published author and winner of the 2008 Army Historical Foundation's Distinguished Writing Award for Excellence.

About the Army ROTC Hall of Fame

The ROTC Hall of Fame was established in 2016 as part of the ROTC Centennial celebration. The first class (2016) inducted 326 former ROTC Cadets who had distinguished themselves in their military or civilian career.

The Hall of Fame honors graduates of the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps who have distinguished themselves in military or civilian pursuits. It provides a prestigious and tangible means of recognizing and honoring Army ROTC Alumni who have made lasting, significant contributions to the Nation, the Army and the history and traditions of the Army ROTC Program.

Read more about the 2022 Hall of Fame Inductees.