Dwight Hughes
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 many oceans in ships ranging from destroyer to aircraft carrier and with river forces in Vietnam (Bronze Star for Meritorious Service, Purple Heart).
Dwight taught Naval ROTC at the University of Rochester, earning an MA in Political Science, and later completed an MS in Information Systems Management from USC. His second career was software engineering, primarily in electronic mapping for the U.S. Geological Survey. A ridge in Antarctica is named for 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 and a fascination with the Civil War. His commitment is to advance understanding of our Civil War heritage and to communicate that heritage in an educational and entertaining manner especially for new generations.
Dwight is author of A Confederate Biography: The Cruise of the CSS Shenandoah (Naval Institute Press, 2015). 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.
He has presented at numerous Civil War Roundtables, historical conferences, and other venues. See http://civilwarnavyhistory.com/ for a list of previous presentations and summaries of presentations available for interested audiences.
Dwight lives with his wife, Judi, in the woods near Nokesville, VA, just down the road from Bristoe Station battlefield.
