Robert L. Edmonson II

Last updated
Robert L. Edmonson II
Robert L. Edmonson II (2).jpg
Born1966 (age 5758)
Fürth, Germany
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1991–2024
Rank Major general
Commands United States Army Communications-Electronics Command
Battles/wars Iraq War
Afghan War

Robert L. Edmonson II (born 1966) is a retired United States Army two-star general who last served as the Commanding General of the United States Army Communications-Electronics Command and Senior Commander of Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland from August 21, 2021 to June 7, 2024. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Edmonson was born in 1966 in Fürth, Germany. He is a biological son of an American soldier and German mother and was placed for adoption without the knowledge of his biological father. [2] [3] He was adopted in 1967 by another U.S. Army Soldier, Robert L. Edmonson, and his Austrian wife, Margaret K. Edmonson. He grew up in Willingboro, New Jersey. [4] [5]

Edmonson attended Frostburg State University in Maryland, where he was introduced to the Army R.O.T.C during a visit to play college football. While attending Frostburg State, Edmonson played college football and participated in Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. [4] He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant (Infantry) and graduated with a degree in business marketing in 1990. [4]

Edmonson also holds an associate's degree in business administration from Burlington County College, [6] a Master of Science Administration in information resource management from Central Michigan University and a Master of Science in national security strategy from the National Defense University. [5] [7] In 2022, Frostburg State University granted him an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. [5]

Military career

Edmonson was commissioned as a second lieutenant through Frostburg State University's ROTC program in 1991. [4] [5] He began his military career in 1991 as a Rifle Platoon Leader in the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. [8]

In 1993, Edmonson transitioned to the Signal Corps, serving as a Signal Platoon Leader and Assistant S-3 in the 501st Signal Battalion, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. [8] As a captain in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Liberty, he held multiple roles including Infantry Brigade Signal Officer, Division Radio Officer, and Commander of Alpha Company, 82nd Signal Battalion, Fort Liberty, North Carolina. [8]

In 2000, Edmonson was selected to serve in the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Internship Program, contributing to the Joint Staff J-6 and the Army Staff CIO/G-6, Pentagon. [8]

As a Major, Edmonson returned to the 82nd Airborne Division, serving as an Infantry Brigade Signal Officer and deploying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. [8] He later served as the Deputy G-6 and Battalion Executive Officer of the 82nd Signal Battalion from 2004 to 2006, where he deployed to support humanitarian recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina. [8]

As a Lieutenant Colonel, Edmonson served on the Joint Staff, J-6, Pentagon. He commanded the 63rd Expeditionary Signal Battalion and served as a Senior Military Advisor to the Minister of Interior (Sustainment) in Kabul, Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. [8]

As a Colonel, Edmonson was the Army Chief Information Officer/G-6 (CIO/G-6) and Director of Army Signal Activity at the United States Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM). He commanded the 35th Signal Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps from 2013 to 2015. [8] He later became Executive Officer to the Army CIO/G-6. [8]

In 2016, Edmonson was appointed the 38th Chief of Signal and Signal Commandant, where he was responsible for the education and leader development of 11K students, annually. [8] In 2017, Edmonson was promoted to brigadier general. [7]

In 2018, Edmonson became Deputy Chief of Staff, CIO/G-6, U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Liberty in North Carolina. [8] In 2021, Edmonson was promoted to major general. [9]

Edmonson served the 17th commander of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command and Senior Commander of Aberdeen Proving Ground from August 21, 2021 to June 7, 2024. [4] [1] [10]

Awards and decorations

Combat Action Badge.svg Combat Action Badge
Expert Infantry Badge.svg Expert Infantryman Badge
Ranger Tab - Dress Metal.png Ranger tab
US Army Airborne master parachutist badge.gif Master Parachutist Badge
Pathfinder.gif Pathfinder Badge
AirAssault.gif Air Assault Badge
U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Legion of Merit with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star ribbon.svg Bronze Star Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg Joint Service Commendation Medal
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg
Army Commendation Medal with one silver oak leaf clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Army Achievement Medal ribbon.svg
Army Achievement Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with one service star
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Afghanistan Campaign Medal ribbon.svg
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars
Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d.svg Iraq Campaign Medal with star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Humanitarian Service ribbon.svg
Humanitarian Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Army Service Ribbon.svg Army Service Ribbon
NATO Medal ribbon (Article 5).svg NATO Medal
Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg Valorous Unit Award
Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg Joint Meritorious Unit Award

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References

  1. 1 2 Whitlow, James (August 6, 2021). "Maj. Gen. Robert Edmonson, new senior commander of Aberdeen Proving Ground, formally takes the reins". Baltimore Sun .
  2. "Ties of service: The unexpected brotherhood between two military families". www.army.mil. November 1, 2021.
  3. "3 brothers reunited after 50 years include an Army general and an Army colonel". ABC News.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 TY DEMARTINO ’90. "Returning to His Beginnings - Army Major General Discovers His Long-Lost Family During One Eventful Year".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. 1 2 3 4 "MAJOR GENERAL ROBERT L. EDMONSON II" (PDF).
  6. "Aberdeen Proving Ground major general values education and family — and time on the green". February 22, 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Edmonson promoted to brigadier general".
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Brigadier General Robert L. Edmonson - Deputy Chief of Staff, G-6 - U.S. Army Forces Command" (PDF).
  9. https://www.gomo.army.mil/public/Biography/usa-10082/robertl-edmonsonii
  10. Hacker, Kiersten (June 7, 2024). "Aberdeen Proving Ground senior commander retires after 33 years in Army: 'I didn't get here by myself'". Baltimore Sun .