Colonel Randy Edwards enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard on April 7th, 1993, as a Petroleum Supply Specialist with Alpha Company 634th Forward Support Battalion. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant before receiving a direct commission in the Illinois Army National Guard as a Quartermaster Officer in 2002, and in 2011 was awarded the Logistics Branch. In 2009, Colonel Edwards changed his primary branch to Engineer. He is a graduate of the Quartermaster Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms Exercise Course, Engineer Captains Career Course, Command and General Staff College, and Senior Service College.
Colonel Edwards currently serves as the full-time Active Guard and Reserve Chief of Staff for the Illinois Army National Guard. Previous non-command assignments include: Quartermaster Company Platoon Leader and XO; Squadron S1; Engineer Battalion Plans Officer, Assistant Operations Officer, S3, and XO; Collective Training Branch Chief; Deputy Director Facilities; Force Integration and Readiness Officer; Future Plans and Readiness Division Chief; Mobilization Readiness Officer; Deputy G3/5/7; Director G3/5/7.
Colonel Edwards' command assignments include 33 months as Commander, 766 Brigade Engineer Battalion, Decatur, Illinois, and 30 months as Commander, Alpha Company, 634 Brigade Support Battalion, Mattoon, Illinois. As the Alpha Company Commander, he deployed to Iraq in 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and to Louisiana in 2005 in support of Hurricane Katrina.
Colonel Edwards holds a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College, Carlisle, PA, Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Illinois State University, Bloomington, Illinois, and Associates of Science Degree in Law Enforcement from Richland Community College, Decatur, Illinois. He has numerous military awards and decorations.
Colonel Edwards lives in Decatur, Illinois, happily married to his wife Heather for 25 years. They have two wonderful children, Gable, and Cora.