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      EnglishEspañolFrançaisKreyòlTiếng Việt简体中文한국어  Eric L. Edwards II
Eric Edwards
            **Office of Response and Recovery**
                Director, Disaster Emergency Communications

        Mr. Eric L. Edwards II is the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Director for Disaster Emergency Communications, Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS), and the Mobile Communication Office Vehicle (MCOV) Program Manager in the Response Directorate.  In this position, he is responsible for coordinating the development and execution of emergency communications doctrine, operational plans, policies, and procedures for disaster response operations and leading the MERS Detachments and the MCOV program during Presidential disasters, emergency declarations, National Security Special Events, and other incidents of national significance.

Eric came to FEMA in August 2004.  Before joining FEMA, he served for twenty-three years as a commissioned officer in the United States Army Signal Corps.  His numerous military assignments include Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Assistant Battalion Operations Officer, U.S. Army Communications Command - Japan, Signal Battalion, Okinawa, Japan;  Company Executive Officer, 501st Signal Company, Camp Humphreys, Korea; Company Commander, 29th Signal Battalion and Brigade Signal Officer, 1st Brigade, 9th Infantry Division (Motorized), Fort Lewis, Washington; Company Commander, Battalion Logistics Officer (S4), and Battalion Operations Officer (S3), 38th Signal Battalion, 56th Field Artillery Command (Pershing), Federal Republic of Germany; Political-Military Officer, Strategic Plans and Policy, J5, Joint Staff, the Pentagon; Force Development Officer, Deputy Chief of Staff Plans, U.S. Total Army Personnel Command, Alexandria, Virginia; Executive Officer, National Communications System, Arlington, Virginia; Commander, Army Signal Activity, United States Southern Command, Miami, Florida, and Chief, Special Technical Support Division, Directorate of Human Intelligence, Defense Intelligence Agency, Clarendon, Virginia.  Eric retired from active duty in June 2004 and joined FEMA in August 2004.

Eric holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism and Communications from the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, and a Master's Degree in Financial Management from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.  His Military Education includes Air Command and Staff College; U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; Army Management Staff College; and Signal Officer Basic and Advance Courses.

Eric’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Joint Staff Identification Badge.  He received the Order of Saint Barbara for service with the Pershing II Nuclear Missile Command in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Eric and his wife, Carolyn of Washington, DC, are the parents of two children, Ayana and Erica.
Last updated January 20, 2021

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