MSU Army ROTC Bobcat Battalion
Lieutenant General Patrick M. Hughes
Lieutenant General Patrick M. Hughes, a highly decorated military intelligence leader
and former Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, passed away on October 5,
from leiomyosarcoma. He was 82.
Born September 19, 1942, in Great Falls, Montana, Hughes grew up in Manhattan, Montana,
and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1962. He attended Montana State College before beginning
his military service, where he later returned to complete his degree while participating
in Army ROTC. He served as a medic before earning his commission as an officer in
1968. Hughes saw combat in Vietnam with the 9th Infantry Division and later transitioned
to military intelligence, embarking on a distinguished career that spanned more than
three decades.
Hughes held key leadership roles, including Director of Intelligence at U.S. Central
Command, Director of Intelligence for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the 12th Director
of the Defense Intelligence Agency from 1996 to 1999. His service took him across
the globe, from Vietnam and the Middle East to Africa and the Balkans, where he played
pivotal roles in major military and intelligence operations, including Operation Desert
Storm and peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia, Somalia, and Haiti.
Following his retirement from the Army in 1999, Hughes continued his work in the intelligence
community, joining the Department of Homeland Security in 2003 as Assistant Secretary
for Information Analysis. He left government service in 2005 but remained an influential
figure in national security, consulting and mentoring until his full retirement in
2018.
He never forgot his service in Vietnam and the men and women he served with in other
wartime locations and was a frequent participant in wreath laying and remembrance
at the Vietnam War Memorial.
His decorations include three awards of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the
Silver Star, three awards of the Legion of Merit, three awards of the Bronze Star
for valor, two awards of the Bronze Star for meritorious service, the Purple Heart,
the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, five awards of the Army Meritorious Service
Medal, the Air Medal for combat air mobile operations, the Army Commendation Medal
for valor, the Good Conduct Medal, the Parachute Badge and the Combat Infantry Badge.
He is also the recipient of the National Intelligence Distinguished Service medal,
the CIA Director's Award, and the CIA Seal Medallion. He received several awards and
recognition from allied nations and professional organizations. He is a member of
the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame and the US Army ROTC Hall of Fame. He was also
the recipient of the MI Corps Knowlton Award and the Blue & Gold Award from Montana
State University.
Lieutenant General Hughes was a member and board participant of the Defense Intel
Agency Association, the OSS Society, the National Military Intelligence Association
and its successor organization the National Military Intelligence Foundation, and
the Security Affairs Support Association now known as the Intelligence and National
Security Alliance. He was a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers,
the Mobile Riverine Force Association, and the American Legion. He was a Life member
of the Military Officers Association of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the
Disabled American Veterans, the Association of the United States Army, and the Vietnam
Veterans of America.
Hughes is survived by his wife of 62 years, Karlene, his sons Barry and Chad, and
a large extended family. He will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery, with
a celebration of his life to follow.
Welcome to the Bobcat Battalion!
Army ROTC allows MSU students to become Army Officers while they earn a bachelor's or master’s degree. Students take 4-7 credits of ROTC classes each semester to become a full-time Active Duty officer or a part-time officer in the Army National Guard or Army Reserve. Students can major in any degree offered at MSU and minor in Military Studies. Not only does Army ROTC supply leadership experience and a job after graduation, it can also provides a monthly stipend, money for books, and cover full tuition and fees. If you are interested in finding out more information without obligation, send an email to our Scholarship and Enrollment Officer, Mr. Reinhardt [email protected]
Important Dates for Fall 2024 - Spring 2025
- Monday, 11 November - Veteran's Day; No classes, Offices Closed
- Fall Break - 25 - 29 November; No Classes, Offices Closed 28-29 Nov
- Fall Commissioning - 13 December; location TBD
- Fall Commencement - 13 December
- Break - 14 December - 13 January; Offices closed 24-25 December & 31 December-01 January
- First Day of Spring Semester - 14 January
- Monday, 20 January - MLK Day; No Classes, Offices Closed
- Army ROTC Scholarship Board - 31 January
- Monday, 17 February - President's Day; No Classes, Offices Closed
- Dining Out - 08 March
- Spring Break - 17-21 March; No Classes, Offices Open
- Spring FTX - 11-13 April 2025
- Friday, 18 April - University Day; No Classes, Offices Open
- Spring Awards Ceremony - 08 May, Location and Time TBD
- Spring Commissioning - 08 May, Location and Time TBD
- Spring Commencement - 09 May
2024-2025 MSU Scholarship Application For Returning Students
Scholarship applications will open 01 November 2024
Priority application deadline & Priority FAFSA deadline - 01 February 2025
Applications for the 2023-2024 Academic Year Scholarships are open for all Cadets. Please visit this page to apply. If you have questions, please email or stop into 301 Hamilton Hall for assistance 8:00am - 2:00pm, Monday - Friday.
https://www.montana.edu/admissions/scholarships//
Program Activities & Videos
2021 Ranger Challenge Highlights
What's Your Warrior?
The Bobcat Battalion challenges you to enroll in the most exciting course on campus. We educate, develop, and train top quality student leaders from high schools and on-campus. MSU Army ROTC forges cadets into the next generation of officers for the U.S. Army and the nation. Interested in learning more without obligation? Send an email to our Scholarship and Enrollment officer, Mr. Reinhardt [email protected]
Privacy Act Notice: Disclosure of any information by you is strictly voluntary. However, delays in providing you requested materials may result by not providing complete information. All information collected will be used strictly for recruiting purposes. The authority for the collection of this information is Title 10, United States Code, Section 503.