Richard B. Hughes

Acting Director of the Advocacy Center
International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce

 

 

Rick Hughes is the Acting Director of the Advocacy Center, located within the U.S. Department of Commerce’s U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service.

 

The Advocacy Center coordinates U.S. Government resources and authority in support of U.S. business interests as they compete against foreign firms for specific international contracts or other U.S. export opportunities. In addition, the Advocacy Center houses the Department of Commerce representatives to the Multilateral Development Banks, who are responsible for protecting and promoting American commercial interests within these organizations that finance development projects worth billions of dollars throughout the world.

 

Rick joined the Department of Commerce in November 2008 from the Navy International Programs Office, where he most recently served as Deputy Director for Strategic Planning. In this capacity, he served on the immediate staff of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (International Programs), and ensured that U.S. Navy international programs were aligned with DoD, Navy and Combatant Commander security cooperation guidance.

 

Prior to his civilian service, Rick served as an officer in the U.S. Navy. He was deployed twice to the Persian Gulf and accumulated over 1,000 hours in Seahawk helicopters. He also served on the Chief of Naval Operations staff in the Pentagon. He is currently a Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

 

Rick resides in Alexandria, VA. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and earned a Master of Arts degree from Georgetown University in International Security Studies.