Robert Emmet Hughes
Profession & company: Chief Commercial Officer, McAllister Towing
How do you celebrate your Irishness? I celebrate my Irish heritage through family, community, and the values I was raised with growing up in Rockaway Park, New York, the “Irish Riviera by the sea,” as my mother used to say. My family roots trace to County Clare through my mother and to Counties Mayo and Sligo through my father’s side. Irish culture was always present in our home through family gatherings, storytelling, music, and a strong sense of loyalty to community. Today I carry that heritage forward by staying connected to Irish American organizations, sharing those traditions with my children, and trying to live by the same values that shaped my upbringing: humility, hard work, and service.
Name a maritime hero you admire and why? Commodore John Barry. Born in County Wexford, Ireland, Barry is often called the Father of the United States Navy. His leadership during the American Revolution helped establish the early traditions of the U.S. naval service, and he later became the first commissioned officer in the United States Navy under the new Constitution. What I admire most is the combination of courage, seamanship, and integrity he demonstrated throughout his career. Barry embodied the spirit of service and professionalism at sea, and as an Irish immigrant, he helped lay the foundation for American maritime leadership that continues today.
What did you learn in your first job which has been useful to you throughout the career? My first job was not at sea. At twelve years old, I worked as a delivery boy for a neighborhood kosher butcher in Rockaway Park, New York, the “Irish Riviera by the sea,” as my mother used to call it. I delivered orders on my bicycle with a milk crate my father helped me bolt onto the rack. At first, I was thrilled that I could buy all the candy I wanted, but the job quickly taught me something more important. I made those deliveries after school in all kinds of weather, often with sand still in my shoes from the beach. It was honest work that taught me the value of keeping your word, the value of a dollar, and always respecting the people, you work with no matter their position. Above all, it taught me to stay humble.
Biography: Captain Robert Emmet Hughes is Chief Commercial Officer at McAllister Towing and a Master Mariner with more than three decades of maritime leadership. A graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, he sailed aboard U.S. flag vessels before moving into senior leadership roles with OSG, Cargill, and Genco Shipping. He also served in the U.S. Navy Reserve, retiring as a Captain. Captain Hughes remains active in mentoring midshipmen and advancing maritime safety and professionalism. His Irish roots trace to Counties Clare, Mayo, and Sligo. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and their three children.
