Duncan Hughes MD MPH

Chief Medical Officer
Virgin Galactic

Dr. Duncan Hughes is the Chief Medical Officer at Virgin Galactic, where he collaborates with a team of experts to revolutionize access to space. With a comprehensive approach spanning spaceflight requirements, aeromedical standards, and human systems integration, Dr. Hughes draws on his experience in both the Armed Forces and the private sector to advance Virgin Galactic’s mission. Dr. Hughes spent 28 years as a physician and Chief Flight Surgeon in the United States Air Force supporting multiple aviation airframes and missions. He brings a unique mixture of experience and training (Aerospace, Occupational & Family Medicine) to bear on the novel challenges inherent in spaceflight provided by a publicly-traded, commercial start-up company where the astronauts more closely resemble the clientele in an Internal Medicine clinic waiting room than the graduates of a government-sponsored, professional astronaut selection process.