Albert Joseph Edmonds (born January 17, 1942) is a retired
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
lieutenant general
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
who served as director of the
Defense Information Systems Agency
The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), known as the Defense Communications Agency (DCA) until 1991, is a United States Department of Defense (DoD) combat support agency composed of military, federal civilians, and contractors. DISA prov ...
from 1994 to 1997. He was born in
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a consolidated city-county located on the west-central border of the U.S. state of Georgia. Columbus lies on the Chattahoochee River directly across from Phenix City, Alabama. It is the county seat of Muscogee County, with which it ...
. Edmonds was commissioned in 1964 upon graduation from the
Air Force Officer Training School
Officer Training School (OTS) is a United States Air Force and United States Space Force commissioning program located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.
Overview
Officer Training School is a part of the Jeanne M. Holm Center fo ...
.
Born January 17, 1942 in Columbus, Georgia, Edmonds was a career officer in the United States Air Force who eventually achieved the rank of lieutenant general. He graduated from Spencer High School in Columbus and then earned a B.S. degree in chemistry from
Morris Brown College
Morris Brown College (MBC) is a private Methodist historically black liberal arts college in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded January 5, 1881, Morris Brown is the first educational institution in Georgia to be owned and operated entirely by African Ame ...
in 1964 and his M.A. degree in counseling psychology from
Hampton University
Hampton University is a private, historically black, research university in Hampton, Virginia. Founded in 1868 as Hampton Agricultural and Industrial School, it was established by Black and White leaders of the American Missionary Association af ...
in 1966. Edmonds attended the
Air Command and Staff College
The Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) is located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama and is the United States Air Force's intermediate-level Professional Military Education (PME) school. It is a subordinate command of the Air Uni ...
and the
Industrial College of the Armed Forces
The Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy (Eisenhower School), formerly known as the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF), is a part of the National Defense University. It was renamed on September 6, 20 ...
in 1974 and graduated from the
Air War College
The Air War College (AWC) is the senior Professional Military Education (PME) school of the U.S. Air Force. A part of the United States Air Force's Air University, AWC emphasizes the employment of air, space, and cyberspace in joint operation ...
in 1980. In 1987, he completed
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
's national security program for senior officials.
Edmonds began his military career when he entered the Air Force in 1964 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant after his graduation from Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. His first assignment was at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, and then in 1966 at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia as a data systems officer in the Tactical Communications area.
In 1969, Edmonds was assigned at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii as the inspection team chief, director emergency mission support for the Pacific Communications Area. His first overseas assignment came when he was assigned at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand as the Chief of Operations with the 2083rd Communications Squadron.
In 1973, Edmonds received his first Pentagon assignment at Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. where he was responsible for the air communications programs in the continental United States, Alaska, Canada, South America, Greenland, and Iceland. After a two-year assignment beginning in 1975 at the Defense Communications Agency in Arlington, Virginia, he in 1977 was assigned to Anderson Air Force Base, Guam as the director of communications-electronics, Strategic Air Command's 3rd division and as the commander of the 27th communications squadron.
In 1979, he attended the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. After graduating in 1980, Edmonds returned to Headquarters, Air Force to work in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations. In 1983, he was assigned to Headquarters, Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base but by 1988, he was named director of the Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems Directorate, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. This command was responsible for U.S. military interests in 19 countries across the Horn of Africa, Persian Gulf, and Southwest Asia.
From 1989 to 1990, Edwards was assistant chief of staff, systems for command, control, communications and computers at Air Force headquarters. In 1991, he was given the role of director for this command.
General Edmonds was awarded the
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a military decoration of the United States Department of Defense, which is presented to United States Armed Forces service members for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to the ...
,
Defense Superior Service Medal
The Defense Superior Service Medal (DSSM) is a military decoration of the United States Department of Defense, which is presented to United States Armed Forces service members who perform superior meritorious service in a position of significant ...
,
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...
,
Meritorious Service Medal A Meritorious Service Medal is an award presented to denote acts of meritorious service, and sometimes gallantry, that are worthy of recognition. Notable medals with similar names include:
*Meritorious Civilian Service Award
*Meritorious Service Med ...
and the
Air Force Commendation Medal
The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issues its own version of the Commendation Medal, with a fifth ...
. On July 1, 1988, Edmond received his promotion to brigadier general. He would later be promoted to major general in 1991 and lieutenant general in 1993.
In 1993, Edmonds became director for Command, Control, Communications, and Computer Systems (J-6) on the Joint Staff. In 1994, he became director of the Defense Information Systems Agency and manager of the National Communications System.
In 1998, after retiring from the Air Force on August 1, 1997, Edmonds joined Electronic Data Systems (EDS) and from 1998 to 2004 held multiple positions within the company, including president of the EDS, U.S. Government Division, vice president of EDS Government Global Industry Group, vice president and chief operating officer, EDS Federal, and president of EDS Military Systems Strategic Business Unit. Since 2004 Edmonds has served as the president and CEO of Edmonds Enterprise Services, a small business that provides consulting and logistical support services primarily to the U.S. government. General Edmonds is married to Jacquelyn McDaniel and has three children, Gia, Sherri, and Alicia.