Duke Hughes
About Duke Hughes
Duke Hughes serves as the US ITER Manager for Manufacturing Systems at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a position he has held since 2021. He has over a decade of experience in engineering and management roles across various organizations, including American Centrifuge Manufacturing and Centrus Energy Corp.
Work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Duke Hughes has been employed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory since 2019. He currently holds the position of US ITER Manager, Manufacturing Systems, a role he has maintained since 2021. In addition to this position, he serves as the Tokamak Cooling Water System Team Lead. His responsibilities include overseeing various projects related to manufacturing systems and managing teams to achieve project objectives.
Previous Employment History
Before joining Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Duke Hughes worked at American Centrifuge Manufacturing, LLC (ACM) in various roles from 2008 to 2012. His positions included Senior Engineer, Engineering Interface Manager, Process Engineering and Design Interface Manager, and Manufacturing Engineer. He also served as Engineering Services Manager at Centrus Energy Corp. from 2013 to 2015 and as a Senior Manufacturing Process Engineer at Walt Disney World from 2012 to 2013.
Education and Expertise
Duke Hughes earned an Associate of Science Degree in Drafting and Design Technology (CAD) from Daytona Beach Community College from 1995 to 1999. He then pursued higher education at the University of Florida, where he obtained both a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering, completing his studies from 1999 to 2005. Additionally, he attended Stanford University, where he completed the Project Leadership Institute.
Project Management Experience
Duke Hughes has extensive experience in managing large-scale projects, with technical management responsibilities for initiatives exceeding $1 billion. His project portfolio includes significant systems such as the Tokamak Cooling Water System, Port Integration, CS Magnets, Tokamak Exhaust Processing, and Vacuum systems. He employs systematic problem-solving approaches and interactive management strategies to lead teams effectively.
Skills and Management Style
Duke Hughes utilizes interactive management strategies to motivate teams and achieve project goals. He possesses a systematic approach to problem-solving, particularly in dynamic environments. His extensive experience includes managing personnel through all phases of product lifecycle activities, from research and development to end-of-life closeout.