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Leon Albert "Bud" Edney (born March 1, 1935) is a former United States Navy officer. A native of
Dedham, Massachusetts Dedham ( ) is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 25,364 at the 2020 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest b ...
, he retired from the Navy as an
admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...
and served as vice chief of naval operations for the United States Navy.


Naval career

Designated a naval aviator in 1958, Admiral Edney's first operational flying tours were with Air Antisubmarine Squadrons 27 and 24. Following his graduate studies at Harvard, he served a two-year tour in Washington, D. C., as a special assistant to the deputy chief of naval operations for research and development. In 1965, Edney transitioned to light attack jet aircraft and was assigned to Attack Squadron 164. In 1970, he was assigned to the staff of the chief of naval operations as the Western Hemisphere plans officer in the Political-Military Plans Division. He was selected as a White House Fellow in 1970 and served as a special assistant to the secretary of transportation. In 1971, Edney was named executive officer of Attack Squadron 27 and assumed command of the squadron the following year. Edney assumed command of
Carrier Air Wing Two Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier . Subordinate units CVW-2 consists of 9 Squadrons History 1940s-50s Origi ...
embarked in the aircraft carrier USS ''Ranger'' (CV-61) in 1974. He then became the commanding officer of the fleet oiler USS ''Ponchatoula'' (AO-148) two years later. He then served as chief of staff for commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group FIVE before assuming command of the aircraft carrier USS ''Constellation'' (CV-64) in January 1980. Under his command, ''Constellation'' participated in RIMPAC '80 exercise with navies from the Pacific basin before deploying to the Western Pacific in April 1980. During this deployment, ''Constellation'' remained on station in the Indian Ocean for 110 straight days in support of U. S. foreign policy. In June 1981, Edney was designated a commodore admiral and became the sixty-ninth Commandant of Midshipmen at the US Naval Academy. In March 1984, he became commander, Carrier Group ONE and made another deployment to the Western Pacific embarked in ''Constellation'' the following year. Following his assignment as commander, Carrier Group ONE, Edney served as the assistant deputy chief of naval operations for air warfare; director, Aviation Plans and Requirements Division; and later director, Office of Program Appraisal for the secretary of the navy. In 1987, he became the chief of naval personnel, and the deputy chief of naval operations for manpower, personnel, and training. He assumed his present rank and the duties of vice chief of naval operations in August 1988, and as such was directly responsible to the chief of naval operations for the command of the Navy's operating forces and the administration of its shore establishment. In May 1990, Edney assumed duties as NATO's supreme allied commander, Atlantic, and commander in chief, U.S. Atlantic Command. He retired on 1 August 1992. Edney's personal awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal with gold star, the Legion of Merit with two gold stars, Distinguished Flying Cross with four gold stars, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Air Medal with gold numeral 8 and bronze numeral 30 Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with gold star, as well as various campaign and unit awards. During his career he has accumulated more than 5,600 flight hours, flown 340 combat sorties, and made more than 1,000 carrier landings. Edney is married to the former Margon Beck of Hastings, Nebraska. They have two daughters, Merrie and Jaimie.


Civilian activities

Edney retired in August 1992 and was appointed as an éminence grise for the Center for Naval Analyses and the National Defense University. In April 1997
Charles R. Larson Charles Robert Larson (November 20, 1936 – July 26, 2014) was an Admiral of the United States Navy. Military career A 1958 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Larson twice served as Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis ...
selected Edney to fill the post of Distinguished Professor of Leadership at the United States Naval Academy. In this position, Edney was charged with "teaching core leadership and ethics courses and promoting moral development and leadership education" to academy students.Thompson, p. 396. In addition to his duties as a Capstone Senior Fellow, Edney serves as a senior fellow at the Center for Naval Analyses, and is director of the Armed Forces Benefit Services, Inc. and the Retired Officers Association. He has also in recent years been awarded government contracts to perform education services for the National Defense Universitybr>
In 1986 Edney was presented with the Outstanding Alumni Award from
Dedham High School Dedham High School is a public high school in Dedham, Massachusetts, United States, and a part of the Dedham Public Schools district. The school was founded in 1851 by the oldest public school system in the country. It earned a silver medal from '' ...
. Edney serves on the board of advisors for the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairsbr>
Edney was named Veteran of the day on July 30,2021 by the Veteran's Administration.


Awards and decorations

His decorations and medals include: Edney has earned the following combat awards:


Notes


References


Golden Eagles Biography


External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Edney, Leon 1935 births Living people Harvard University alumni United States Naval Aviators United States Naval Academy alumni Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) Recipients of the Gallantry Cross (Vietnam) Vice Chiefs of Naval Operations Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Military personnel from Dedham, Massachusetts