Hugh Edward Willoughby is an American atmospheric and hydrospheric scientist. He is a Distinguished Research Professor at Florida International University and an Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Willoughby graduated from Ray District High School in 1963 and enrolled at the University of Arizona with a scholarship. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1969, Willoughby then enrolled at the Naval Postgraduate School for his Master of Science degree in meteorology. After receiving his master's degree, Willoughby served as a flight meteorologist and taught at the United States Naval Academy. Willoughby left active duty as a Lieutenant and completed his PhD at the University of Miami. While earning his PhD, he also worked as a research meteorologist at the Hurricane Research Division of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory.
Willoughby served as Director of the NOAA's Hurricane Research Division from 1995 to 2003, when he left to join Florida International University's International Hurricane Research Center. Willoughby was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2006.