Born in Idaho Falls, ID, and raised in Livingston, TN, Dr. Huddleston graduated valedictorian of the class of 1993 from Livingston Academy, in Livingston, TN. He then pursued an undergraduate degree from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, TN. He graduated cum laude, with the class of 1997 with a B.S. in Chemistry. Receiving an invitation to matriculate in the early decision program, he attended the James H. Quillen College of Medicine, at East Tennessee State University (ETSU), in the fall of 1997. Selected to the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society as a junior medical student in 2000, he graduated from the Quillen college of medicine in 2001. Although being invited to interview for residency at institutions such as Emory, Wake Forrest, and Vanderbilt, he chose to stay at ETSU for his surgical residency, picking them first on his rank list. This decision was based on the breadth as well as the depth of the training that was available at ETSU. Also, given the fact that there were no other surgical subspecialty residencies at ETSU, he had a greater exposure in the Operating Room to subspecialty cases.

After finishing three years of residency, he requested and took a clinical fellowship in surgical research at ETSU. During that time he assisted with multiple research projects including a trial on an artificial blood substitute, All Terrain Vehicle accidents involving children, and an educational program to teach surgical residents the use of ultrasound in the assessment of trauma victims.

Following his research year, with the consent of the program chairman, Dr. Huddleston took a short sabbatical to spend time with his wife Ammie, and their two young sons. During time out of residency he was also called to active duty to serve as a medical officer in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2006-2008. Upon returning from active duty, he resumed his surgical training in the spring of 2007, finishing in June, 2009 with over 1200 surgical cases.