John R. Edwards (general)

John R. Edwards is a United States Air Force major general who serves as the director of global power programs at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. He previously served as the director for strategic capabilities policy on the National Security Council at the White House.

John R. Edwards
Official portrait, 2024
AllegianceUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
Years of service1995–present
RankMajor General
Commands28th Bomb Wing
479th Flying Training Group
96th Bomb Squadron
AwardsDefense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (3)

Edwards was born in Saigon, Vietnam to an American father and Vietnamese mother. His father was a former Army noncommissioned officer assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group who later served as a civilian with the U.S. Navy. He was brought up in Honolulu, Hawaii, graduating from the University of Hawaii and commissioning as a second lieutenant in the Air Force in 1995.[1] He is a Master Combat Systems Officer with more than 2,500 flight hours including 237 combat hours in operations Allied Force and Enduring Freedom.[2] He has served as the director of the Nuclear Enterprise Directorate of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency since June 2020. He previously commanded the 28th Bomb Wing.[3][4][5][6]

Edwards served as the Director of the United States Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force Executive Action Group from 2019 to 2020. Earlier, he commanded the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, South Dakota; the 479th Flying Training Group at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida; and the 96th Bomb Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. He has served in several positions on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Air Force Air Staff. He holds graduate degrees from the George Washington University, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, and Air Command and Staff College. He was the national defense visiting fellow at the Stimson Center from 2012 to 2013.[7]

In December 2023, Edwards was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and promoted to major general.[8][9]

References

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  1. ^ "Vietnamese-American service members' parallel paths to the American dream". www.army.mil. May 27, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2024.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "JOHN R. EDWARDS". Air Force. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  3. ^ "JOHN R. EDWARDS". Af.mil.
  4. ^ "BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN R. EDWARDS" (PDF). Dtra.mil. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  5. ^ "Edwards Nominated for Appointment to Brigadier General". Afcea.org. March 26, 2020.
  6. ^ "Colonel John Edwards". Crows.org. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  7. ^ "John R. Edwards • Stimson Center". Stimson.org. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  8. ^ "PN456 — Air Force, 118th Congress (2023-2024)". U.S. Congress. March 21, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  9. ^ "General Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
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Military offices
Preceded by Commander of the 479th Flying Training Group
2015–2017
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the 28th Bomb Wing
2017–2019
Succeeded by
Preceded by Director of the United States Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force Executive Action Group
2019–2020
Succeeded by
Preceded by Director of the Nuclear Enterprise Directorate of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency
2020–2022
Succeeded by
Preceded by Director for Strategic Capabilities Policy at the United States National Security Council
2022–2024
Succeeded by
???
Preceded by Director of Global Power Programs at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics
2024–present
Incumbent