Dwight Hughes is a public historian, author, and speaker in Civil War naval history.
Dwight graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1967 with a major in History and Government. He served twenty years as a Navy surface warfare officer on most of the world’s oceans in ships ranging from destroyer to aircraft carrier and with river forces in Vietnam (Bronze Star for Meritorious Service, Purple Heart).
Lieutenant Commander Hughes taught Naval ROTC at the University of Rochester, earning an MA in Political Science. He later earned an MS in Information Systems Management from USC. In his final sea tour, Commander Hughes planned and conducted convoy exercises with over twenty ships of the Maritime Prepositioned Force, Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean.
Dwight’s second career was software engineering, primarily in geographic feature naming data and electronic mapping under contract for the U.S. Geological Survey. A ridge in Antarctica is named after him in recognition of contributions to Antarctic databases and information services.
Dwight’s current calling melds a love of the sea and ships with a lifetime study of naval history. His commitment is to advance the understanding of our Civil War naval heritage and to communicate that heritage in an educational and entertaining manner especially for new generations.
Dwight is a contributing author at the Emerging Civil War blog and author of:
- A Confederate Biography: The Cruise of the CSS Shenandoah (Naval Institute Press, 2015)
- Unlike Anything That Ever Floated: The Monitor and Virginia and the Battle Hampton Roads, March 8-9, 1862 (Savas Beatie, 2021) for the award-winning Emerging Civil War series.
His new book as editor and contributor is The Civil War on the Water: Favorite Stories and Fresh Perspectives from the Historians at Emerging Civil War (Savas Beatie, May 2023) for the Emerging Civil War Tenth Anniversary Series.
Dwight has presented at numerous Civil War Roundtables, historical conferences, and other venues. He is a life member of the U.S. Naval Institute, the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association, and the Historic Naval Ships Association. He is a member of the Naval Historical Foundation, The National Maritime Historical Society, and The North American Society for Oceanic History (NASOH).
Dwight Hughes lives near Manassas, Virginia with his wife, Judi, a former Air Force officer and Electronics/Communications Engineer.
Papers presented at previous events are available for your audience. Note: Virtual presentations available.
See current schedule of speaking engagements and a list of past events.
Request a presentation for your organization.
