Gregory Edwards Ph.D.

Greg develops and implements FEMA’s cybersecurity strategy and manages policies, guidance, operations, assessments, and risk management for the security of all FEMA IT. He has oversight of the development and implementation of security tools and procedures to ensure the proactive protection of the IT Enterprise. He ensures the FEMA IT environment is secured by continuously assessing security threats and vulnerabilities and developing methods to proactively mitigate risks and consequences from incidents. Greg oversees a security operations center, governs the security authorization process, and assures compliance with Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) and Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) policies. Part of his authorities also include development of training plans and providing guidance across the agency for FEMA-wide personnel with designated cybersecurity roles and responsibilities.

Greg joined FEMA on July 5, 2020 as the Senior Technical Advisor to the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). He fostered the application of sound science in critical IT initiatives, such as planning and implementing the first enterprise cloud environments, refining the Strategic IT Roadmap, optimizing the authorization to operate process, and developing the structure for an integrated Network Operations and Security Center.

As a NATO Senior Executive Service career broadening assignment, Greg served as the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) Director Infrastructure Services and Director of Service Operations with a posting in Brussels, Belgium. From 2014 – 2019 he led a team of over 1,000 international employees across 15 different countries and 30 locations where he had executive management and oversight for a 2.5 Billion Euro modernization portfolio. He helped ensure the Communications and Information System (CIS) direction of the NATO Heads of State was executed to enable consultation and the conduct of military operations.

Prior to joining NATO, he held executive management positions at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). As the Vice Director of Joint Information Environment (JIE) Technical Synchronization Office, he led the architectural engineering and design of the JIE for the Department of Defense (DoD). He orchestrated activities with Combatant Commands, Services and Agencies to realize a JIE comprised of shared IT infrastructure, enterprise services, and a single security architecture goal. As the Deputy for Command Centre Operations for DISA, he led day-to-day operations for an $870M, 263 person staff, global Command Centre responsible for DoD Information Enterprise operations and executing global cyber security defense for US Cyber Command. He voluntarily deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, under the DoD Civilian Expeditionary Workforce program, supporting the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) as a Senior Telecommunications Advisor to the Afghanistan Minister of Communications and Information Technology. During his military career, he served as an officer in the Air Force, Communication and Computer Systems field and also became a Foreign Area Officer and Korean linguist. Notably, he earned official commendations from the Republic of Korea’s Chief of Staff of the Army and Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff for C4ISR interoperability accomplishments.

Greg holds Bachelors degrees in both Computer Science and Management, Masters degrees in National Resource Strategy and Information Resource Management, along with a Doctorate in Applied Management and Decision Sciences, Information Technology Systems from Walden University. Federal Executive Institute, Center for Leadership Development Program, graduating Jan 2022.