Roy P. Hudson was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, the middle of five children. His family’s roots in Virginia date back to the 1600s. At the age of eight, he moved with his family to Maryland, where he completed his schooling and graduated from high school.

Immediately after graduation, Roy volunteered for service in the United States Army. Upon completing his honorable service, he returned to Maryland.

In 1972, Roy began his life’s work in law enforcement when he joined the Baltimore City Police Department. He served as both a patrolman and a detective, earning several awards for valor.

In 1979, Roy moved to Florida and joined the Saint Lucie County Sheriff’s Office. Over the next 22 years, he held every rank from Deputy to Major, ultimately serving as Director of Law Enforcement and Director of Administration. In these roles, he was responsible for more than 500 personnel and a $50 million budget.

During his tenure, Roy continued his education, earning a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from the Union Institute. He also graduated from the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Executive Institute.

Roy’s career included service with U.S. Customs and the Drug Enforcement Administration. He commanded a multi-agency task force covering the entire southeast region of Florida, conducting international narcotics investigations. He was recognized by the DEA as the only local law enforcement officer ever to serve as the Resident Agent in Charge of a DEA office.

Throughout his career, Roy became known for his exceptional ability to take struggling units or divisions, identify the problems, and implement effective solutions. This reputation opened doors to additional leadership roles.

After a highly decorated career with the Sheriff’s Office, Roy retired and was then hired as Chief of Police for the Golden Beach Police Department in South Florida. There, he implemented a comprehensive plan to professionalize and revitalize the agency.

Following his tenure in Golden Beach, Roy became the Director of Law Enforcement Operations for the Florida Sheriffs Association. In this statewide role, he coordinated law enforcement operations, improved interagency communication, and developed training curricula for newly elected Sheriffs.

Upon retiring from the FSA, Roy accepted the position of Criminal Justice Director for Saint Lucie County. Once again, he was tasked with correcting organizational issues involving personnel, operations, and modernization. His work included restructuring staff, upgrading equipment and facilities, establishing professional standards, and securing Florida Accreditation for the Pretrial Program—making it only the third accredited program of its kind in the state.

Throughout his career, Roy also served as an adjunct professor with nine colleges and participated in numerous federal training initiatives, including teaching leadership programs in 48 states. After a distinguished 49-year career in criminal justice, he retired for the third time.

Since then, Roy has devoted himself to the Sons of Confederate Veterans and plans to serve the organization for the remainder of his life, with the full support of his family and his Heavenly Father.