CSTC-A deputy commanding general talks procurement, transparency: ‘Here to fulfill legacy of friend Maj. Gen. Harry Greene’ - Hughes

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Robert Sizelove | Maj. Gen. Daniel Hughes serves as the deputy commanding general of Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, where he is responsible for developing programs and processes that will assist the Afghans with procurement.  

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

07.10.2015

Story by Lt.j.g. Charity Edgar 

Resolute Support Headquarters

KABUL, Afghanistan — Maj. Gen. Daniel Hughes just touched down at Resolute Support Headquarters at the end of June, but he is already tackling the overhaul of a key process for the future of Afghanistan — procurement.

After commissioning as a field artillery officer in 1983, Hughes transitioned into acquisition management, where he has served as a recognized leader the past 21 years. Before arriving at Resolute Support Headquarters, in Kabul, Afghanistan, the Pantego, Texas, native was serving as the program executive officer for Command, Control and Communications-Tactical, northeast of the nation’s capital in Maryland. In this role, he led a workforce of more than 1,700 personnel who executed an annual budget of more than $3 billion. His staff developed, acquired and supported the Army’s tactical communications network.

It is this extensive experience in acquisitions that resulted in his selection to deputy commanding general of Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A), where he is responsible for developing programs and processes that will assist the Afghans with procurement.

“My goal is to help the government of Afghanistan incrementally make their systems better every day,” said Hughes. “We need to ensure the processes in place benefit the soldiers and police on the front lines.”

He explained that transparency is essential for successful procurement, as well as leading by example.

“We have to hold ourselves to high standards and continue to make moral and ethical decisions, and ensure the Afghans do the same,” said Hughes.

The 32-year Army veteran is returning to Afghanistan for a second time after supporting the International Security Assistance Force mission more than a decade ago.

“It is encouraging to see the vast improvement since I was last in Afghanistan,” said Hughes. “I see hope here as they continue to make progress and work toward a peaceable solution to their future.”

Hughes is committed to supporting Afghanistan while fulfilling the mission of a CSTC-A deputy commanding general predecessor, Maj. Gen. Harold Greene, who was mortally wounded in a shooting at Marshal Fahim National Defense University in Afghanistan Aug. 5, 2014.

“I’m here to fulfill the legacy of my good friend Harry Greene,” explained Hughes. Greene had promoted Hughes to general officer, and was slated to pin on Hughes’ second star when he was killed. Greene’s widow promoted Hughes in her husband’s place.

“Harry was passionate about getting the job done. I am very proud to follow in his footsteps and help Maj. Gen. [Todd] Semonite and the CSTC-A team complete the important mission here,” said Hughes.

• Date Taken: 07.10.2015
• Date Posted: 07.10.2015 09:38
• Story ID: 169637
• Location: KABUL, AF
• Hometown: KABUL, AF
• Hometown: ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD, US
• Hometown: PANTEGO, TX, US
• Hometown: THE PENTAGON, DC, US