Albert J. Edmonds facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Albert J. Edmonds
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| Born | January 17, 1942 Columbus, Georgia, US |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1964–1997 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | Defense Information Systems Agency |
Albert Joseph Edmonds (born January 17, 1942) is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant general. He was a top leader in the Air Force. From 1994 to 1997, he directed the Defense Information Systems Agency. This agency helps the military with its computer and communication systems. General Edmonds was born in Columbus, Georgia. He joined the Air Force in 1964 after finishing Officer Training School.
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Who is Albert J. Edmonds?
Albert J. Edmonds was born on January 17, 1942, in Columbus, Georgia. He grew up to become a very important officer in the United States Air Force. He reached the high rank of lieutenant general.
His Education Journey
Albert Edmonds went to Spencer High School in Columbus. After high school, he studied chemistry at Morris Brown College. He earned his first degree there in 1964. Later, in 1966, he earned a master's degree in counseling psychology from Hampton University.
He also attended several special military colleges. These included the Air Command and Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. In 1980, he graduated from the Air War College. He even completed a national security program at Harvard University in 1987.
Joining the Air Force
Albert Edmonds began his military career in 1964. He joined the Air Force after graduating from Officer Training School. This school was at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. He became a second lieutenant, which is an entry-level officer rank.
His first job was at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. In 1966, he moved to Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. There, he worked with data systems for tactical communications. This means he helped manage how military units talked to each other.
Overseas Assignments
In 1969, Edmonds was sent to Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii. He led a team that checked emergency support systems. Later, he had his first overseas assignment. He went to Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. He was the Chief of Operations for a communications squadron.
Important Military Roles
In 1973, Edmonds received his first assignment at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The Pentagon is the headquarters for the U.S. military. He was in charge of air communications programs. These programs covered a huge area, including the U.S., Alaska, Canada, and parts of South America.
After two years, he worked at the Defense Communications Agency. This agency is in Arlington, Virginia. In 1977, he moved to Anderson Air Force Base in Guam. There, he directed communications-electronics for a Strategic Air Command division. He also commanded a communications squadron.
Leading Communications and Computers
After attending the Air War College in 1979-1980, Edmonds returned to Air Force Headquarters. He worked on plans and operations. In 1983, he was assigned to Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base.
By 1988, he became a director at U.S. Central Command in Florida. This was a very important role. He was responsible for Command, Control, Communications, and Computer Systems (C4). This command looked after U.S. military interests in 19 countries. These countries were in the Horn of Africa, Persian Gulf, and Southwest Asia.
From 1989 to 1990, he was an assistant chief of staff for C4 systems at Air Force headquarters. In 1991, he took on the main director role for this command.
Rising Through the Ranks
General Edmonds received many important awards during his career. These include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Defense Superior Service Medal. He also earned the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
He was promoted several times during his career. On July 1, 1988, he became a brigadier general. This is a one-star general. In 1991, he was promoted to major general, a two-star general. Finally, in 1993, he became a lieutenant general, which is a three-star general.
In 1993, Edmonds became director for C4 Systems (J-6) on the Joint Staff. This is a group that advises the top military leaders. In 1994, he became the director of the Defense Information Systems Agency. He also managed the National Communications System. These roles put him in charge of vital communication networks for the entire U.S. military.
After the Military
General Edmonds retired from the Air Force on August 1, 1997. After his military career, he joined a company called Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in 1998. He held several leadership positions there until 2004. He was president of the U.S. Government Division, and a vice president. He also led the Military Systems Strategic Business Unit.
Since 2004, Albert Edmonds has been the president and CEO of Edmonds Enterprise Services. This is a small business that helps the U.S. government with consulting and support services.
Family and Community
General Edmonds is married to Jacquelyn McDaniel. They have three children named Gia, Sherri, and Alicia. In the 2024 United States presidential election, he publicly supported Kamala Harris.
