Episode 50 - MG Robert L. Edmonson II, USA (Ret): Cyber Leadership That Goes Beyond Technical Expertise
MG Robert L. Edmonson II, USA (Ret): Cyber Leadership That Goes Beyond Technical Expertise
In this episode of Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker, I sit down with Major General Robert Edmonson, II, (USA (Ret), a military leader and senior executive whose career spans more than 33 years directing large, complex, global organizations at the intersection of leadership, technology, and transformation. With MG Edmonson, we examine how foundational leadership principles developed through infantry service informed his approach to enterprise IT, cybersecurity, and organizational change, ultimately shaping his leadership of large-scale modernization efforts.
As Commanding General of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command, MG Edmonson led a global IT enterprise of more than 9,000 personnel across 56 U.S. locations and 20 international sites, overseeing a $3.1 billion portfolio supporting Department of Defense and interagency operations. He shares hard-earned lessons on leading systems that never stop and driving modernization inside large bureaucratic institutions. His leadership philosophy is direct and accountable: “If you don’t like something, get yourself promoted,” and “360 degrees of accountability” are not slogans, but operating principles for leaders responsible for enterprise-level outcomes.
Throughout the conversation, MG Robert Edmonson makes clear that technology alone does not deliver resilience. “Cybersecurity is a people business,” he explains, emphasizing culture, trust, and leadership development as decisive factors in cyber outcomes. He offers pointed insight into CIO leadership and cyber workforce development, challenging the pursuit of perfect security—“you can’t take risk to zero, but you can mitigate it”—and urging organizations to invest in the next generation of leaders. He reminds us to “develop people, not just solutions."
Guest Bio
Major General (Retired) Robert L. Edmonson II is a senior executive and trusted advisor with more than 33 years of leadership experience managing large, complex, global organizations. He brings deep expertise in enterprise IT, cybersecurity, digital modernization, and organizational transformation, with a proven ability to align strategy, governance, and performance to drive measurable results. In his final assignment, he served as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command, where he led a global IT enterprise of more than 9,000 personnel across 56 U.S. locations and 20 international sites. In this role, he exercised fiduciary oversight of a $3.1 billion portfolio performing DoD and Interagency network sustainment operations, and foreign military sales. As Chief Information Officer for U.S. Army Forces Command, he was responsible for network strategy and execution supporting over 750,000 Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve personnel. And as Commandant of the U.S. Army Signal School, he led the most significant restructuring of the Signal Corps in more than three decades, modernizing governance, talent development, and cyber readiness.
Major General Edmonson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, a Master’s degree in Information Resource Management, and a Master’s degree in National Security Strategy. He has also been awarded an Honorary Doctorate from his alma mater, Frostburg State University. His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Combat Action Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge and Air Assault Badge.
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