Hugo B. Poza received his MS degree from Purdue University in 1967 and completed his PhD degree at Purdue just four years later. He joined TRW and rose to the rank of vice president and general manager of TRW's Military Electronics and Avionics Division. While at TRW/MEAD, he headed an organization of 1,000 people dedicated to the design, development, and manufacture of systems and subsystems for electronic warfare and integrated communications.

Currently, Poza is vice president and general manager of the Avionics Division at Lockheed Sanders, Inc. His responsibilities include the direction of design, development, and production of electronic payloads for military aircraft and earth resources spacecraft, such as the Polar Platform for ESA.

Poza is active in many professional and local organizations. He is a member of Tau Beta Pi, Pi Mu Epsilon, IEEE, and the Association of Old Crows (AOC). He has been a member of the Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce and the San Diego Economic Development Corporation. In 1987, Purdue University honored him as a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus.