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MR. NICHOLAS S. EDWARDS

Mr. Nicholas Edwards is Chief of Information Protection at Arnold Engineering and Development Complex (AEDC), headquartered at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. The complex employs more than 3,000 people and comprises more than 68 aerospace test facilities spanning eight states. AEDC capabilities are unmatched in span and scope supporting development of the Nation’s key strategic systems as defined in the National Defense Strategy. AEDC offers a suite of test capabilities to simulate speed, temperature, pressure and other parameters over a wide range to meet the needs of aerospace test and technology development of hypersonic systems, directed energy, space, propulsion and more. All NASA manned spacecraft and every high performance aircraft, missile, most space launch systems and many military satellites in use by the Department of Defense today have been developed and tested at the Complex.

Mr. Edwards began his federal career in 2001 as an Enlisted Air Force Security Forces Airman, serving as a Law Enforcement Officer and Security Specialist in the United States Air Force European Command (USAFE) at the 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany; 435th Air Base Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany and Pacific Air Forces Command (PACAF) at the 15th Air Base Wing, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawai’i. During his active duty military career, Mr. Edwards directly contributed to the successful execution of Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom at operating locations Al Dhafra Air Base United Arab Emirates; Ali Al Salem Air Base Kuwait; and Camp Bucca Iraq. In 2009, Mr. Edwards left active duty military service and became a civil servant as Information and Industrial Security Program Manager for the 15th Air Base Wing at Hickam AFB, Hawai’i.

Mr. Edwards left Hawai’i in 2011 to become a member of the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), serving as Industrial and Operations Security Program Manager for AEDC. In 2012, Mr. Edwards returned to Germany to serve as the 86th Airlift Wing’s Industrial and Information Security Program Manager. In 2014, Mr. Edwards was selected to serve as Chief of Information Protection, 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base Germany, where he was responsible for the oversight and management of the Wing’s Information Security, Industrial Security and Personnel Security programs, including seven geographically separated units throughout Europe in Germany, Poland, The Netherlands, and Italy. In 2015, Mr. Edwards returned to AEDC, where he currently operates as the Organizational Senior Functional and technical expert for all security disciplines and provides oversite for AEDC’s Information Security, Industrial Security, Personnel Security, Operations Security, Air Force Counter Insider Threat, Foreign Affairs and Treaty Compliance, and Special Access Program security efforts at operating locations in Tennessee, California, New Mexico, Florida, Ohio, Utah and Maryland. During Mr. Edwards’ 20 years of combined service, he was instrumental in the successful development and execution of multiple Major Air Force Command Information Protection program implementation efforts, leading to the continued effort to maintain the superiority if the United States Air and Space Force.

EDUCATION
2009 Associates of Criminal Justice, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Bachelors of Occupational Education (Law Enforcement), Wayland Baptist University, Plainview, Tx.
2013 Masters of Public Administration (Gov. Mgmt.), Wayland Baptist University, Plainview, Tx.

CAREER CHRONOLOGY

  1. October 2001 – June 2003, Active Duty Air Force (Security Forces), 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein AB, GE
  2. June 2003 – February 2006, Active Duty Air Force (Security Forces), 435th Air Base Wing, Ramstein AB, GE
  3. February 2006 – May 2009, Active Duty Air Force (Security Forces), 15th Air Base Wing, Hickam AFB, HI
  4. November 2009 – September 2010, Information and Industrial Security Program Manager, 15th Air Base Wing, Hickam AFB, HI
  5. September 2010 – November 2012, Industrial and Operations Security Program Manager, Arnold Engineering Development Center, Arnold AFB, TN
  6. November 2012 – September 2013, Industrial & Information Security Program Manager, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein AB, GE
  7. September 2013 – May 2015, Chief of Information Protection, 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, GE
  8. May 2015 – Present, Chief of Information Protection, Arnold Engineering Development Complex Arnold AFB, TN.

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS and MAJOR AWARDS
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with 3 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border
Award for Meritorious Civilian Service (2 times)
52d FW Civilian of the Quarter
GSA Authorized Vault & Safe Technician & Inspector Certification
Security Program Integration Professional Certification
Physical Security Professional Certification
Security Asset Protection Professional Certification
Security Fundamentals Professional Certification

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2003 Air Force Senior Airman Below-the-Zone
2004 Distinguished Graduate, Airman Leadership School

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Permanent member, American Legion
Permanent member, Veterans of Foreign Wars

(Current as of JULY 2021)