Former CGSC deputy commandant elected as Foundation chair

The CGSC Foundation board of trustees has elected former CGSC deputy commandant retired Maj. Gen. Christopher P. Hughes, as the next chair of the Command and General Staff College Foundation. The term was effective Oct. 11.

Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Chris Hughes

The Foundation’s previous chair, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Bryan W. Wampler, had served as board chair since September 2021.

“Having neither sought nor bargained for this honor, I accept this appointment with humility and pride,” said Hughes. “I recognize the significance of this role and pledge to approach it with unwavering dedication.”

The Foundation’s top leadership roles have both changed within the last two months with the end of Wampler’s term and the resignation and retirement of the former President/CEO Col. (Ret.) Rod Cox in August. Lora Morgan, the Foundation’s director of operations, was subsequently appointed interim president/CEO and the board formed a committee to search for the next president/CEO.

“As a former deputy commandant of the College and a lifelong learner himself, General Hughes comes to the board chair position with tremendous credentials,” said Morgan. “We look forward to serving with him.”

“CGSC taught me the immense power of being a good listener,” added Hughes, “and as your chair, I will not assume I understand the scope and complexity of this challenge. I will rely heavily on the insights and mentorship of our trustees and staff, along with the College faculty, staff and students, to validate or improve our visions, mission, and end state.”

Hughes served in the U.S. Army for 35 years, retiring as a major general in July 2018. His last assignment before retirement was as commanding general of the U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox. He was deputy commandant of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College from Oct. 2013 to June 2015. In that role he was the co-founder and first provost of Army University. After his military retirement, Hughes served as a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Iowa (West) from 2018-2020. He also founded his own business – Northwest Consulting-M&C, LLC – in 2018, and more recently “The Way Forward: Executive Coaching” in 2023. He is currently a doctoral student pursuing an interdisciplinary leadership degree at Creighton University. He and his wife Marguerite reside in Red Oak, Iowa and have three children and six grandchildren.

Read the Chair’s full biography