Lt. Gen Harley A. Hughes

1935 - 2022

Hughes

Lt. Gen Harley A. Hughes (Age 86)

Lt. Gen Harley A. Hughes, USAF (Ret), beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend, 86, of Castleton, VA passed away on Friday, September 30, 2022, at Fauquier Hospital.

General Hughes was born in 1935, in Adair, Oklahoma, where he graduated from Adair High School in 1953. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma A&M College/Oklahoma State University Stillwater, in 1957 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Science Degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 1967. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1963, National War College in 1974, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1976.

General Hughes entered the U.S. Air Force in October 1957 and served for over 30 years retiring in 1988. He was assigned to the 558th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, from March 1968 to April 1969. While there he flew 225 combat missions.

Upon his return to the United States, General Hughes was assigned as a planning and programming officer in the Strategic Forces Division, Directorate of Plans, at Air Force headquarters. In August 1971 he became an air operations staff officer and, later, Chief of Strategic Offensive Forces.

In June 1974, he assumed command of the 716th Bombardment Squadron at Kincheloe Air Force Base, Mich. In December 1974 he became Deputy Commander of the 449th Combat Support Group, also at Kincheloe, and in March 1975 he became the 449th Bombardment Wing Deputy Commander for Operations.

From June 1976 to January 1978, he was assigned as a joint action planner in the Office of the Assistant Director for Joint Chiefs of Staff and National Security Matters in the Directorate of Plans at Air Force headquarters.

General Hughes was then selected as the Assistant Director for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and National Security matters. From September 1980 to July 1981, he served as Deputy Director for doctrine, Strategy and Plans integration, Directorate of Plans, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Readiness. He was then named Deputy Director of Plans.

In August 1982 he became Deputy Chief of Staff for operations plans, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, and Deputy Director for the Single Integrated Operational Plan of the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. In July 1984, he was assigned as the assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations at Air Force Headquarters and was promoted to Lt. General in 1985 as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations at Air Force Headquarters.

General Hughes was a command pilot with 5,000 flying hours and 225 combat missions in Southeast Asia. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Defense Superior Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with five Oak Leaf Clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

After his storied military career, General Hughes served on many defense and corporate boards and was the President and CEO of Immediate Response Technologies Inc.

General Hughes, an avid reader of world history and safari books, enjoyed golfing and skeet shooting until he was physically unable to enjoy it.

He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Little Washington, VA, Belle Haven Country Club, Army Navy Country Club, and The University Club in Washington, D.C.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, The Honorable Grace Flores-Hughes; their children Christian I. Martinez of Richmond, VA and Elsa R. Dixon of Castleton, VA. His first marriage to Cecile R. Hughes ended in divorce and the children are; Debra Kube (Andy) of Stafford, VA, Denise Hughes of Mt. Pleasant S.C., Deana Amendolia (James) of Vienna, VA; a sister, Karen Falls (Paul) of Ft. Worth TX; five grandchildren, Matthew Hughes, Meghan Kube, Bailey Kube, Harlie Hughes-Spurlock and Cameron Hughes-Spurlock; two nieces, Benita Falls Harper and Carmen Hunter.

The family will receive friends on General Hughes' birthday, Wednesday October 5, 2022 at Moser Funeral Home, 233 Broadview Ave., Warrenton, from 5 to 7 p.m.

A funeral service will be held Thursday October 6, 2022 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 379 Gay Street, Washington, VA starting at 2 p.m.

Burial will take place at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery.

Online condolences may be expressed to Harley's family at

www.moserfuneralhome.com