[3] In 1988, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Duke University 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.

[3] In 2007, he received the Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing, United States Atlantic Fleet Navy and Marine Association peer-selected leadership award.

[3] On 24 September 2017, Hughes' command, Expeditionary Strike Group Kearsarge which included the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge and the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill along with the 2,400 marines of 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, deployed off the coast of Puerto Rico to coordinate naval relief efforts after Hurricane Maria.

[7] On 12 November 2020, he was nominated for promotion to vice admiral[8] and assignment as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Development.

[8] In May 2023, he was nominated for assignment as the deputy chief of staff for capability development of Allied Command Transformation.