
U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Patrick Hughes, a decorated leader in the U.S. intelligence community, was remembered for his extraordinary service to his country during a full military funeral honors with escort service at Arlington National Cemetery on Aug. 4, 2025.
Hughes’ 37-year military career, which began when he enlisted in 1962, culminated in his role as the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) before his retirement in 1999. He served in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf Wars, earning numerous awards for valor and sacrifice. After leaving the Army, Hughes continued his service to the nation as the Assistant Secretary for Information (Intelligence) Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2003, where his expertise helped the new agency.
“When he became part of DHS, we had instant credibility because of his presence,” said Tom Ridge, the United States’ first Secretary of Homeland Security. “That’s how respected he was in the broader intelligence community.” Ridge, speaking after the funeral, recalled Hughes’ ability to deliver briefings with pinpoint accuracy while infusing even the most serious moments with his signature sense of humor. “No matter how serious it was, he would do his best to lighten the moment,” Ridge said. “His commitment to serve was only matched by his extraordinary sense of humor.”
Hughes’ funeral service reflected the honor and respect he earned throughout his life. These honors included The Old Guard’s caisson escorting him to his final resting place, the Presidential Salute Battery firing a 15-round gun salute, and a caparisoned or rider-less horse. At the gravesite, U.S. Army Chaplain (Capt.) Philip Morlock addressed Hughes’ family and friends, saying, “In life he honored the flag, now this flag will honor him.”

Colleagues and contemporaries who served alongside Hughes spoke of his remarkable leadership and selflessness. Retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Thomas M. Montgomery, who commanded U.S. forces in Somalia while Hughes served as the director of intelligence for CENTCOM in the 1990s, described him as a calm and courageous leader. “He was pretty brave too,” Montgomery said.
Retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Mike Davis, who served under Hughes at DIA, considered him a complex thinker. “He was the proverbial chess player who was four steps ahead of you,” Davis said. Hughes’ ability to balance strategic missions with care for the soldiers under his command left a lasting impression. Davis recalled how Hughes would personally call deployed enlisted soldiers on their birthdays and give them permission to use a staff phone to call home. “He would tell the soldiers: ‘You tell them that Gen. Hughes said you can use the staff phone,’” Davis said. “That’s just the sort of man that he was.”
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