Robert L. Edmonson

Robert L. Edmonson II (born 1967) is an American general who is currently serving as the Commanding General of the United States Army Communications-Electronics Command.

Early life and education
Edmonson was born in 1967 to an American father and German mother. He was adopted in 1968 by a non-commissioned Army officer and his Austrian wife and grew up in Willingboro, New Jersey. Edmonson received his early education from Burlington County College. Later, he attended Frostburg State University in Maryland, where he was recruited during a campus visit. While attending Frostburg State, Edmonson played college football and participated in Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He graduated with a degree in business marketing in 1990.

Edmonson also holds 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. Frostburg State University granted him an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2022.

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

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

In 2000, Edmonson joined the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Internship Program, contributing to the Joint Staff J-6 and the Army Staff CIO/G-6.

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. He later served as the Deputy G-6 and Battalion Executive Officer of the 82nd Signal Battalion from 2004 to 2006.

As a Lieutenant Colonel, Edmonson commanded the 63rd Expeditionary Signal Battalion and served as a Senior Military Advisor in Kabul, Afghanistan.

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), and commanded the 35th Signal Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps from 2013 to 2015. He later became Executive Officer to the Army CIO/G-6.

In June 2016, Edmonson was appointed the 38th Chief of Signal and Signal Commandant.

In August 2017, Edmonson was promoted to brigadier general.

In July 2018, Edmonson became Deputy Chief of Staff, G-6, at Forces Command.

In February 2021, Edmonson was promoted to major general. In August 2021, he was appointed the 17th commander of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command and Senior Commander of Aberdeen Proving Ground. Before joining Aberdeen, he was serving as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

In June 2024, Edmonson left the command of Aberdeen Proving Ground.