General Officer Biography

BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN P. HUGHES

Retired, September 1, 2010

Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Illinois National Guard

Brigadier General John P. Hughes is the Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Illinois National Guard. General Hughes also serves as the Commander, Illinois Air National Guard. He is responsible for the command, control and operations of plans and programs affecting more than 3,000 Illinois Air National Guard personnel located at Scott Air Force Base, Peoria, and Springfield, Illinois. His broad range of responsibilities include insuring combat readiness and mission capability of three major air bases comprised of flying wings, command and control facilities, logistics and mission support units, providing combat trained personnel to meet all United States Air Force mission requirements. General Hughes also supervises a full-time force of over 900 federal and state employees.

General Hughes was commissioned in 1979 through the Academy of Military Science at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee. Prior to receiving his commission, General Hughes enlisted in the United States Air Force in November of 1968. Upon completion of initial training, he was assigned to the 60th Military Airlift Wing, Travis Air Force Base, California, as an aircraft maintenance material control technician. His follow-on assignments in Pacific Air Forces included the 6214th Transportation Squadron, Tinan Air Base, Taiwan and the 388th Combat Support Group, Korat Air Base, Thailand, within the vehicle maintenance and supply divisions. He was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force in August of 1972 and joined the Illinois Air National Guard in June of 1973.

General Hughes' previous assignments were Chief of Supply, Wing Executive Officer, Budget Officer, Comptroller, Deputy Commander for Support, Deputy Commander for Resources, Logistics Group Commander, and Chief of Staff. He was recalled to active duty in December 1990 during operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM as the 1712th Air Refueling Wing (Provisional) support group commander in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and most recently deployed overseas in support of operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. Prior to his current assignment, General Hughes served as the Vice Commander, 126th Air Refueling Wing, until his appointment as Assistant Adjutant General for Air in April 2009.

EDUCATION:

1974 Richard J. Daley College, Associate of Arts, Law, Chicago, Illinois
1976 Roosevelt University, Bachelor of Arts, Public Administration, Chicago, Illinois
1978 Community College of the Air Force, Associate in Material Management, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
1983 DePaul University, Master of Science, Public Administration, Chicago, Illinois
1990 Air War College, by Correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. May 1979 - January 1983,Wing/Base Management and Procedures Officer, 126th Resource Management Squadron, O'Hare International Airport Air Reserve Station, Illinois
2. January 1983 - October 1983, Wing/Base Unit Administration Officer, 126th Combat Support Squadron, O'Hare International Airport Air Reserve Station, Illinois
3 October 1983 - March 1984, Wing/Base Management and Procedures Officer, 126th Resource Management Squadron, O'Hare International Airport Air Reserve Station, Illinois
4. March 1984 - March 1985, Comptroller, 126th Resource Management Squadron, O'Hare International Airport Air Reserve Station, Illinois
5. March 1985 - March 1986, Budget Officer, 126th Resource Management Squadron, O'Hare International Airport Air Reserve Station, Illinois
6. March 1986 - October 1987, Comptroller, 126th Resource Management Squadron, O'Hare International Airport Air Reserve Station, Illinois
7. October 1987 - January 1991, Deputy Commander for Support, 126th Resource Management Squadron, O'Hare International Airport Air Reserve Station, Illinois
8. January 1991 - January 1992, Deputy Commander for Resources, 126th Air Refueling Wing, O'Hare International Airport Air Reserve Station, Illinois
9. January 1992 - January 1999, Logistics Group Commander, 126th Air Refueling Wing, O'Hare International Airport Air Reserve Station, Illinois
10. January 1999 - January 2000, Chief of Staff, 126th Air Refueling Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
11. January 2000 - March 2009, Vice Commander, 126th Air Refueling Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
12. April 2009 - August 2010, Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Illinois National Guard, Springfield, Illinois

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with 'V' Device and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Good Conduct Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Southwest Asia Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars)
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (with Gold Border)
Air Force Longevity Service (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass, 'M' Device, Arabic Numeral 2)
Air Force Noncommissioned Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (with 'Palm' Device)
Kuwait Liberation Medal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Kuwait Liberation Medal Government of Kuwait
Illinois Military Distinguished Service Medal
Illinois Military Medal for Merit
Illinois Lincoln Medal of Freedom
Illinois Military Long and Honorable Service Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
Illinois Recruiting Ribbon
Illinois Military Attendance Ribbon (with Numeral 18)
Illinois State Active Duty Ribbon

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

First Lieutenant 10 May 1979
Captain 11 July 1981
Major 20 July 1985
Lieutenant Colonel 6 August 1989
Colonel 5 December 1992
Brigadier General 1 April 2009

 

 

(Current as of August 2011)

 

The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.

Back