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Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes was a member of the Investigations Division and was good friends with Colonel Mustang. At the time of his introduction in the anime, Hughes held the rank of Major, and first met the Elrics while serving as a communications officer for General Hakuro. Hughes and Edward work together to help recapture a passenger train that had been hijacked by a rebel named Bald (Episode 5). In the manga, Hughes was not present on the train when General Hakuro was held hostage.
Hughes is very devoted to his wife, Gracia, and absolutely besotted with his little daughter Elysia. He comically shoved pictures of Elysia into other people's faces to their annoyance - but it was clear that his goofy behavior was usually a cover for the serious and depressing nature of his work. Another common gag involved Hughes calling Mustang to either gloat about his daughter or advise Roy to get a wife, promptly causing Roy to slam the phone down in anger. He was also very supportive of Mustang's plan to become F��hrer, doing whatever he can to, as he put it, to "work below him and help push him to the top."
Hughes is especially kind to the Elric Brothers. In the anime, he invites them to his home to celebrate Edward's birthday, one of the few moments of domestic bliss enjoyed by the Elric Brothers. Both he and his wife Gracia continue to be kind towards the brothers, as well as to their friend Winry.
 Hughes was assigned to the Investigations Division in Central, and because of this was more involved with police work than he was in actual battles. After receiving his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, Hughes was placed in charge of the Investigations Division. Hughes, while investigating the 5th Laboratory incident and the mysterious deaths of the officers involved with its experiments, found there was much to suspect about the F��hrer's secretary, Juliet Douglas. He was killed by Envy before he could relay his suspicions to Mustang. He died as he phoned Roy. His reason behind calling Roy directly was to give him information that "could send him to the top." (Episode 25).
In the anime, he flees the building with Envy, disguised as Maria Ross, to contact Mustang from a public telephone booth, not trusting the military line. As Mustang is on a train to Central, Hughes is not able to contact him. Hughes then notices that the fake Ross is missing a mole under her left eye and slices Envy's throat with a knife. However, Envy recovers and transforms into Hughes' wife Gracia. Hughes hesitates, and Envy uses that opportunity to fatally shoot him. Ed and Al do not learn of Hughes' death until Episode 44 in the anime.
In the original manga Hughes fought in the Ishbal war not as an alchemist but fought as a soldier this would explain why he was so skilled in knife throwing. Also in the manga, Ed shows Hughes some drawings of what he saw in the 5th Laboratory. Upon further research, Hughes realizes that the military is making a huge transmutation circle around the country. Hughes tries to phone Mustang with  the crucial information. He is confronted by Lust, but manages to escape with only a flesh wound by throwing a knife into Lust's forehead. Hughes also participated in the Ishbal War in the manga alongside Roy Mustang and other State Alchemists, although in the anime, he said he didn't.
He was promoted to Brigadier General posthumously and buried with full honours for dying in the line of duty. His death came as a shock to his friends and family, especially Sciezka and Mustang. While not an alchemist, Hughes was an expert in knife throwing, and carried 2 or 4 small push knives in both or either of his sleeves or in the back of his belt, which he used as protection in battle.
In the Conqueror of Shamballa, the Hughes from the other world (our world) was a policeman and a member of the Nazi party. Unlike the Hughes Ed and Al knew, he was cold, stern and not particularly friendly. He was also in love with the innkeeper (Gracia's other-world equivalent), but was too afraid to speak to her. He ended up betraying Edward to the Thule Society, but ultimately redeemed himself later on. The death of the movie's main antagonist was also his doing.
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