Corporate Director, AF C3 & Cyber Programs, Northrop Grumman
Former Director of Operations, Air Force Combat Support Office
Colonel, US Air Force (Ret)
E-mail: michael.edwards@ngc.com
Phone: (703) 741-7325
Areas of Interest
1) cybersecurity
2) mission support technology
3) interagency coordination
Biography
Colonel Michael J. Edwards, USAF (Ret), currently serves as Corporate Director, AFC3 & Cyber Programs, Northrop Grumman. He is a former Director of Operations, Air Force Combat Support Office, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for supporting the rapid insertion of new technologies into the battlefield arena. That effort supported all the services’ mission planning and rehearsal systems, command and control, support systems for Combined Air Operations Centers, time-critical-targeting, and other aircrew missions. Col. Edwards also led the Joint Strike Fighter Hardening Working Group, AF Directed Energy Task Force and OSD Eye Protection Task Force efforts.
Col. Edwards was raised in Billings, Montana and attended Billings Senior High. He was commissioned in 1983 following graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is a command pilot with 83 combat sorties and over 3330 hours in the A/OA-10, T-38 and T-37. Colonel Edwards’ assignments include T-37 and A/OA-10 instructor pilot duty, Flight Commander, Chief of Wing Exercises, Executive Assistant for the Air Force Executive Review Secretariat, Assistant Deputy Director for Modeling and Simulation, Deputy MA for Simulation and Integration and A/OA-10 PEM for a $1.55B weapons program.
EDUCATION:
1983 Bachelor of Science, United States Air Force Academy
1987 Squadron Officer School
1988 Electronic Combat Pilot Course, Hurlburt Field, FL
1992 Air/Ground Operations School, Hurlburt Field, FL
1994 Masters of Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
1996 Air Command and Staff College
1997 Marine Corps Command and Staff College
2002 Air War College
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Aug 83-Sep 84, Student Pilot, Laughlin AFB, TX
2. Sep 84-Sep 86, T-37 Instructor Pilot, Flight Scheduler, RSU Monitor, 89th Flying Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, TX
3. Sep 86-Sep 87, T-37 Instructor Pilot, Assistant Squadron Safety Officer, RSU Controller, 89th Flying Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, TX
4. Sep 87-Sep 88, T-37 Check Pilot, Squadron Unit Standards and Evaluation Monitor, Runway
Supervisory Unit (RSU) Upgrade Controller, 89th Flying Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, TX
5. Sep 88-Jun 89, A-10 Aircraft Commander, Flight Lead, Plans Officer, 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Myrtle Beach AFB, SC.
6. Jun 89-Mar 91, Flight Commander, 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron, A-10 Instructor Pilot, Supervisor of Flying, Myrtle Beach AFB, SC
7. Mar 91-Dec 93, Flight Commander, A/OA-10 Instructor Pilot, Initial Cadre Member, Supervisor of Flying, 75 Fighter Squadron, 23d Wing, Pope AFB, NC
8. Dec 93-Jul 95, Chief, Wing Exercises, 23d Wing CVX, A/OA-10 Instructor pilot, Supervisor of Flying, 23d Wing, Pope AFB, NC
9. Jul 95-Dec 98, Executive Assistant, Air Force Executive Review Secretariat, HQ USAF/CVS, Air Force Pentagon, Washington, DC.
10. Dec 98-Apr 01, Assistant Deputy Director, Office of Modeling and Simulation for the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, HQ USAF/CVAZ, Air Force Pentagon, Washington, DC
11. Apr 01-Oct 02, Deputy MA to the Director, Simulation and Integration, Office of the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, HQ USAF/CVAZ, Air Force Pentagon, Washington, DC
12. Oct 02-Aug 03, Senior IMA, to Director Quick Reaction Combat Support Office, Deputy Chief of Staff Air & Space Operations, HQ USAF/XOQ, Air Force Pentagon, Washington, DC
13. Aug 03-Present, Director of Operations, Air Force Combat Support Office, Deputy Chief of Staff Air & Space Operations, AFCSO, Air Force Pentagon, Washington, DC
MAJOR AWARDS & DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Combat Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
AF Outstanding Unit Award with V Device with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with four oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with three bronze stars
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air and Space Campaign Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short Tour
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border
Air Force Longevity Service with four oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one M device
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one bronze star
Air Force Training Ribbon
Kuwait Liberation Medal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Kuwait Liberation Medal Government of Kuwait
H. S. Vandenberg Award recipient
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant Jul 15, 1983
First Lieutenant Jul 15, 1985
Captain Jul 15, 1987
Major Jun 01, 1995
Lieutenant Colonel Sep 29, 2000
Colonel Feb 6, 2004