Brigadier General Joseph A. Edwards II assumed command of the 104th Division (Leader Training) on September 2nd, 2017. He is responsible for the Army Reserve’s support to United States Army Cadet Command and the United States Military Academy for future officer training. The Division is comprised of two Brigades with 14 Battalions geographical dispersed across the United States.
Born in Columbus, Ohio, Brigadier General Edwards is a 1989 graduate of Mount Gilead High School and a Distinguished Military Graduate and George Marshall awardee from the University of Rio Grande (Honors Program) in Rio Grande, Ohio where he received his BS in Business Administration. Brigadier General Edwards began his military career on May 16th, 1993 when he commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Regular Army.
He is a graduate of the Aviation Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms Services Staff School, United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the resident Air War College. Brigadier General Edwards holds two Masters Degrees; one in Leadership from Central Michigan University and another in Strategic Studies from the Air War College.
Brigadier General Edwards is an Army Aviator rated in the UH-1H, OH-58A/C, AH-64A/D, C-12D/V, and UC-35A/B. He has successfully held command and staff positions at every level from Company through Division, as well as Joint and Combined Headquarters. His previous duties include Attack Platoon Leader in 3-1 Aviation and Support Platoon Leader, 1-1 Aviation Regiment, Katterbach, Germany; Assistant Operations Officer, 1-1 Aviation Regiment, Bosnia Herzegovina (IFOR/SFOR); Commander, D Company, 1-14th Aviation Regiment, Fort Rucker, Alabama; Liaison Officer, CFLCC, Kuwait/Iraq (OIF); Commander, B Company, 2-228th Aviation Regiment, Dobbins ARB, Georgia; Fixed Wing Detachment Commander, 101st Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, Afghanistan (ISAF); Deputy Director of Army Reserve Aviation and Army Reserve Fixed-Wing Plans and Operations Officer, Fort McPherson, Georgia (USARC); Commander, 6-52d Aviation Regiment, Los Alamitos, California; Commander, 244th Aviation Brigade, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey (JTF-CS); Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, Joint Enabling Capability Command, Norfolk, Virginia (TRANSCOM).
Brigadier General Edwards’ awards and badges include the Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC); Air Medal; Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC); Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC); Army Reserve Campaign Medal (1 OLC); National Defense Service Medal (1 Bronze Service Star); Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal (Bronze Hourglass, M Device, and Arabic Numeral 2); Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; NATO Medal – Balkans; NATO Medal – ISAF; Master Aviator Badge; Parachutist Badge; Air Assault Badge; and the German Armed Forces Efficiency Badge – Bronze.
Brigadier General Edwards currently resides with his wife Dora and their two daughters; Alexus and Jaelynd; in Houston, TX. He is a B-777 pilot for United Airlines in his civilian career.