Tom Fitzhugh

Tom began volunteering at ALF in early 2024, working both food distribution and intake/file review positions. Tom also participated in Focus ALF events such as the Letter Carriers Food Drive. Tom was elected Treasurer in 2026.

Tom attended University of Miami, graduating with a BS in physics, and spent his 45-year career in the aerospace industry. First working at Hughes Aircraft, Tom established new processes and organizations to drive cost as a parameter into new designs, and to engineer new manufacturing processes to produce advanced radar and electronic warfare systems for military airborne applications. Tom was fast-tracked through his career with numerous in-house educational courses in leadership, finance, and large organization operations. Rising through the ranks in project and program management positions as well as establishing and leading large technical organizations, Tom transitioned over to satellite payload systems engineering and manufacturing about halfway through his tenure. Through various mergers and acquisitions, Tom retired from Boeing Space and Defense Systems as executive director in 2014. Since then, Tom has served as an independent consultant to the aerospace industry.

After his formal retirement in 2014, Tom has maintained a continuous volunteering presence, including teaching recovering homeless people job and financial management skills at the Long Beach Rescue Mission, SCORE mentoring, teaching high school seniors financial management skills with United Way, and ALF. Tom serves on the boards of both ALF and the Santa Lucia Flyfishers Club.

Tom lives with his wife of 39 years, Nancy, in Atascadero. They have two

daughters also living on the central coast. Their first grandchild was born early 2025. They enjoy travelling, dog sports competitions, hiking and camping and good wine.