TOM HUDSON is a retired federal civil servant with nearly four decades of experience in the Washington, D.C. area, including a distinguished career with the Department of Defense. He began as a Russian linguist and went on to serve in a variety of leadership roles. During his career, Tom and his family spent eight years in Germany, where they developed deep connections to the country and its culture. Tom previously served as President of the Board of Directors of the Candlelight Concert Society in Howard County, Maryland, where he helped advance the organization’s mission of bringing world-class chamber music to the community and expanding access to live classical music. Along with his belief in the mission of Iris Music Project, Tom’s board service is inspired by the memory of his late wife, Betsy—a musician and longtime advocate for organizational development and workplace well-being, who fostered his deep and enduring love of classical music.