NICEVILLE, FLORIDA – Doolittle Institute is excited to announce that Mike Edwards has joined the DI team as our New Director.
A seasoned leader, Edwards draws on 22 years of military experience, most of which was serving in the Air Force Special Operations Command. He spent the majority of his career in the AC-130U gunship at Hurlburt Field and has numerous deployments in support of combat missions in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Edwards received a Masters of Military Operational Arts and Science from Air University and, after retiring from the Air Force in 2017, continued to serve in several defense corporate roles for five years.
Focused on the Air Force customer and DI personnel, Edwards hopes “to build a cohesive team that continues to support AFRL for many years to come!”
As Director of Doolittle Institute, Mr. Edwards will oversee administration, programs, and strategic plans. He will also uphold fiscal integrity and the terms of the Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA), a contract between DEFENSEWERX and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), to license and commercialize AFRL/RW technologies in the private sector through technology transfer, identify and foster new R&D partnerships through innovation and collaboration, and develop today’s students into tomorrow’s STEM workforce.
“We are happy to have Mike Edwards join the DEFENSEWERX and Doolittle Institute family,” states DEFENSEWERX CEO, Brian Liesveld. “With his extensive military career, vast knowledge in strategic communication, operational leadership, legislative affairs, and an experienced weapons instructor, Mike will prove to be a valuable asset to the future of Doolittle Institute.”
Edwards is married to Col Denise Edwards and has two daughters, Kaitlyn (20) and Emily (18). He spends his free time with family or fishing and is an avid cyclist.