About Richard M. Hughes

Solo founder. Product and program leader. Builder of VA Disability Pro. Consultant.

I'm Richard M. Hughes, a solo founder, consultant, and technology leader with 10+ years at the intersection of software, operations, and strategy. My career spans military leadership, technical program management, product innovation, and public affairs. I am a Senior Technical Program Manager at Built Technology Group, where I drive platform development and strategic initiatives. My experience includes launching digital products, leading cross-functional teams, and serving as an officer, public affairs lead, human resources program manager, and Command Historian in the Army National Guard. I bring expertise in strategic communication, marketing, social media, SEO, and well-rounded consulting capabilities across any domain. Today, I am building VA Disability Pro, an AI-powered platform helping veterans get the benefits they deserve. My approach is precision, transparency, and a focus on real results.

Why I Built VA Disability Pro

I built VA Disability Pro because I saw how complex and frustrating the VA disability claims process is for veterans. As a veteran and product leader, I knew technology could make a difference. My goal is to give veterans clarity, confidence, and the support they deserve using AI and great product design.

Core Values

Timeline

Education & Certifications

  • Georgetown University – MPS, Artificial Intelligence (In Progress)
  • Arizona State University – MBA, Marketing
  • University of Georgia – BS, Computer Science
  • Colorado State University – Grad Cert, IT Project Management
  • Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)

2013 to Present: Military Officer, GA Army National Guard

Led joint humanitarian efforts, managed C2 operations, and strategic planning. Oversaw force readiness for 700+ personnel and directed COVID and Gaza response missions. Secret clearance active. Top Secret/SCI active.

2014 to 2015: Full Stack Software Developer, Waffle House

Digitized POS systems, reducing transaction latency and manual order errors through software innovation and system optimization.

2015 to 2020: Sr Integration Engineer & Project Manager, Tin Roof Software (Cox/Time Warner)

Led agile delivery for cloud migration and integration projects. Built dashboards for cross-squad visibility and roadmap alignment. Managed complex technical implementations.

2020 to 2021: Marketing Technology Manager / Technical Product Owner, Rooms To Go

Delivered MVP mobile app, reducing support incidents by 45% through automation and UX improvements. Led technical product ownership and marketing technology initiatives.

2021 to 2022: Sr Product Manager (Consultant), Argon Digital

Delivered 90% faster fulfillment cycles for Nat Geo and Disney Streaming by redesigning workflows and automating internal tools. Led product strategy and implementation for major media clients.

2022 to 2023: Sr Product Manager (B2B), Reibus

Owned roadmap and product lifecycle for a $50M metals ecommerce SaaS platform. Led sprint planning, user story writing, and product demos for high-impact features in the B2B metals industry.

2023 to 2025: Sr Program Manager, Hussmann (Panasonic)

Led $100M+ deployments including the A2L initiative and OneConnect predictive analytics platform. Drove platform engagement, roadmap execution, and KPI systems for executive visibility. Managed complex program implementations and strategic initiatives.

2025 to Present: Sr Tech Program Manager, Built Technology Group

Leading technology program management initiatives. Driving platform development and strategic technology implementations for Built Technology Group's construction technology solutions.

2025 to Present: Founder & Principal, Hughes Ventures Group

Building VA Disability Pro, an AI-powered platform to help veterans navigate the VA disability claims process with expert guidance and automation.

Let's Connect

Want to collaborate, chat, discuss consulting, or learn more? Reach out anytime.

Ready to build the future together?

Let's create technology that matters.

Get in Touch