Edward James Hudak, Jr. has a long and distinguished career in law enforcement. For the past 34 years he has worked through the ranks in every aspect of police work for the City of Coral Gables. He was appointed chief of police on Sept. 11, 2015 and currently leads a team of more than 310 and oversees a budget of more than $38 million. 

Prior to his appointment as interim chief on Sept. 11, 2014, Chief Hudak served in multiple capacities as a Major over most of the operating divisions of the department. He was the Major of the Specialized Enforcement Division, a division responsible for marine patrol, motorcycle patrol, bike patrol and traffic homicide investigations. In this capacity, he was responsible for all large events held in the city, including the annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration at the Biltmore Golf Course with more than 25,000 attendees. For more than seven years, he served as the division commander for the Uniform Patrol Division, the largest within the department responsible for the direct day-to-day patrol of the city. Prior to that, he was commander of the Internal Affairs Section, leading the team responsible for investigating all complaints regarding police personnel misconduct and reviewing all policy questions. Using his telecommunications expertise, he established the department's first forensic video unit. 

Hudak has extensive experience in multiple aspects of law enforcement. He has led mass training exercises, focusing on coordination of multiple law enforcement agencies. He has worked in a myriad of roles including burglary investigations, auto-theft, narcotics, sexual battery and domestic violence, kidnapping, and has assisted in homicide investigations. For 18 years he was a hostage negotiator and was the commander of the SWAT team during his time as major of the Patrol Division. He has provided leadership to multiple dignitary protection details including the First Summit of the Americas and participated in multiple Super Bowl Host responsibilities. 

A 2010 graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy executive leadership program, he was elected class resident of his session by the more than 200 law enforcement executive attendees. Hudak has worked as a consultant with the U.S. Department of Justice in the Early Identification and Intervention Systems throughout the country and was one of two instructors for the State of Florida. He is considered an expert witness on hostage situations and has lectured on the subject. 

Chief Hudak has held numerous executive positions in professional organizations including President of the Fraternal Order of Police, President of Switchboard of Miami, a county wide crisis referral hotline, and Vice President of the Miami-Dade County Police Officer Assistance Trust. He has been honored multiple times throughout the years as Officer of the Month and in 1992 received the City of Coral Gables Fraternal Order of Police DeKorte Award for Officer of the Year for his extraordinary efforts on behalf and support of Coral Gables' recovery following Hurricane Andrew.

Hudak obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Miami and is a member of Iron Arrow, the highest honor bestowed on any student or alumni of the University of Miami.