Patrick L. Hughes, owner and managing member of Hughes Group LLC of Lakewood was named national Minority Small Business Person of the Year today during the 28th annual National Minority Enterprise Development Week conference in Washington, D.C.

The veteran-owned company was established in 1999 by Hughes, a veteran of 28 years in the military. It is an 8(a) and HUBZone certified firm, and is classified as a small disadvantaged business and a service disabled veteran-owned small business.

The Hughes Group provides aircraft, administrative and training, integrated logistics and information technology solutions to the armed forces and business community.

This year's MED Week event is a collaboration with the Minority Business Development Agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration with an emphasis on helping minority small businesses expand their operations and establish a presence in the global marketplace through exporting.