The United States has been involved with conflicts throughout the first decade of this century, both directly and indirectly.
But in almost every case, it has relied to some degree on its own conflict management center, the United States Institute of Peace, to help save lives, enhance the U.S. government’s ability to deal with conflicts before they escalate, reduce costs, and enhance security. Its experts work with government officials and indigenous peoples to craft practical solutions to difficult challenges. Paul Hughes, the chief of staff of the US Institute of peace, will discuss the Institute and its role in meeting these new challenges of the 21stcentury.
Paul Hughes is the chief of staff at the Institute. Hughes has previously served as director of USIP’s Nonproliferation and Arms Control Program, the executive director of the Quadrennial Defense Review Independent Panel and the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States, and as the director of Iraq programs in the Center for Post-Conflict Peace and Stability Operations.
Prior to joining USIP, he served as an active duty Army colonel and as the Army’s senior military fellow to the Institute for National Security Studies of the National Defense University. From January to August 2003, Hughes served as a senior staff officer for the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance and later with the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. During that time he developed several policy initiatives, such as the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of the Iraqi military. As the director of national security policy on the Army staff from 2000-2002, he developed and provided policy guidance for the Army in numerous areas, such as arms control, weapons of mass destruction, missile defense, emerging nontraditional security issues, and crisis prediction. From 1996 to 2000, he served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) as deputy director of the Office for Humanitarian Assistance and Anti-Personnel Landmine Policy, where he led the OSD participation in crafting U.S. landmine policy and the DOD response to Hurricane Mitch, the Turkish earthquakes, and the Mozambique floods.
Hughes holds two masters of military arts and sciences and a B.A. in sociology from Colorado State University. His awards include two Defense Superior Service Medals, three Bronze Star Medals, four Meritorious Service Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, four Army Commendation Medals, and several campaign and service ribbons.