FORT BLISS, Texas — Captain Albert Joseph “Bert” Hughes of Natchez recently received command of the 72nd Military Police Detachment at Fort Bliss, Texas.

Captain Adrian L. Foster relinquished command to Hughes during a Dec. 11 ceremony led by Lieutenant Colonial Thomas H. Byrd, battalion commander.

During the guidon, company flag portion of the ceremony, 1st Sergeant Luis Espinosa extended the guidon to Foster, which represented that he was still in command.

Foster then gave the guidon to Byrd to symbolize his relinquishment of control. Byrd then gave the flag to Hughes who returned it to Espinosa to symbolize that Hughes was now in command of the 72nd Military Police Division.

Hughes his married to the former Tamla Scott. They have two children, Albert Jr. and Alaina.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in Dec. of 1997 and was commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation form the University of Southern Mississippi in May of 2003. Hughes graduated the Military Police Office Basic Course in 2004. He has served as a platoon leader in the 188th Military Police Company, 728th Military Police Battalion in Teague, Korea and as an Executive Office in Alpha Company, 787th Military Police Battalion in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

Hughes graduate from the Captain Career Course in 2006.

He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007. Hughes arrived at Fort Bliss, Texas, in January of 2008.

His awards include the Army Commendation Medal with valor, Army Commendation Medal with 2OLC, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with 1OLC and a Combat Action Badge.

He is a 1998 graduate of Natchez High School. He attends Holy Family Catholic Church.

He is the son of Albert Hughes Jr. and Sophronia Hall Hughes and the grandson of Naomi Hall and the late Joseph Hall and the late Albert and Sarah Hughes.