:Timothy J. Edens

{{Infobox military person

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|name = Timothy J. Edens

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|image = File:Timothy J. Edens (2).jpg

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|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|12|23}}

|birth_place = Oregon, U.S.

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|allegiance = United States of America

|branch = 20px United States Army

|branch_label = Branch

|serviceyears = 1981–2014

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|rank = 20px Brigadier General{{cite web |title=USAACE deputy earns 1st star|url=https://www.army.mil/article/53735/usaace_deputy_earns_1st_star|website= army.mil|date=March 24, 2011 |accessdate=December 25, 2019}}

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|commands = 4th BDE 1st Infantry Division
12th Combat Aviation Brigade{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/164598396/ |title=U.S. concedes helicopter missiles kill civilians |date=24 May 2008 |page=2 |newspaper=The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware) |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com}}
United States Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center{{Cite web|title=Edens takes reins of USACR/Safety Center|url=https://www.army.mil/article/82711/edens_takes_reins_of_usacrsafety_center|first1= Nathan |last1=Pfau |newspaper= Army Flier |date=June 28, 2012| access-date=2021-09-14 |language=en}}

|battles = Operation Enduring Freedom
Iraq War

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|awards = File:Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit (2){{cite news |last1=Stripling |first1=Jenny |title=Fort Rucker gains new star, deputy commander |url=https://www.army.mil/article/44701/fort_rucker_gains_new_star_deputy_commander |access-date=15 September 2021 |agency=US Army |date=3 September 2010}}
File:Bronze Star Medal ribbon.svg Bronze Star
File:Defense_Meritorious_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg DMSM
File:Meritorious_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg MSM (4)
File:Air_Medal_ribbon.svg Air Medal
Order of St. Michael (Gold)

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|alma_mater = United States Military Academy
United States Army War College

|spouse = Leslie J. Brassard

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Timothy James Edens (born December 23, 1958){{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QqspAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Timothy+James+Edens%22 |title=Register of Graduates and Former Cadets, United States Military Academy |date=1989 |page=889 |publisher=Association of Graduates U.S.M.A. |location=West Point, New York |access-date=May 24, 2022}}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xXreAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Timothy+James+Edens%22 |title=Register of Graduates and Former Cadets, United States Military Academy |date=1991 |page=785 |publisher=Association of Graduates U.S.M.A. |location=West Point, New York |access-date=May 24, 2022}} is a retired United States Army Brigadier General and US Army combat Master Aviator, who commanded the 4th Brigade Avn, 1st Infantry Division and 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, both while deployed to Iraq. He later served as director of Army Safety and commanding general, USACR/Safety Center.{{cite web |first=Greg |last=Phillips |title=Retired brigadier general to Troy graduates Character still matters|url=https://today.troy.edu/news/retired-general-troy-character-matters/ |publisher=Troy University |website= today.troy.edu|date=December 18, 2017|accessdate=December 25, 2019}}{{cite book | author=Timothy J. Edens

| author2=U.S. Army Aviation School | title=United States Army Aviation Digest | publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office | issue=9 | year=1988 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D46wsKv9ctsC&pg=PA32 | access-date=January 7, 2020 | page=32}}

Early life and education

Born in Oregon and raised in Idaho, Edens graduated from Fruitland High School in 1977 and was accepted to the United States Military Academy's class of 1981.{{cite book |title=Poma Terra 1977 |date=1977 |publisher=Fruitland High School |page=5 |url=https://www.classmates.com/yearbooks/Fruitland-High-School/176826?page=9 |access-date=15 September 2021}} While attending West Point, Edens participated in Glee Club, Rugby, and Sprint football.{{cite book |title=Howitzer Yearbook |date=1981 |location=West Point |page=485 |url=https://www.e-yearbook.com/sp/eybb?school=61&year=1981&rpp=2&startpage=488&up=2 |access-date=15 September 2021}} He graduated from West Point in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in engineering with a concentration in political science and national security. Edens graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College in 1995. He later earned a master's degree from the Army War College in 2003.{{cite news |url=https://www.argusobserver.com/news/us/service-news/article_53d191a0-da9f-5ffa-8412-f4f11790bbf7.html |title=Service News |date=September 29, 2010 |newspaper=Argus Observer |location=Ontario, Oregon |access-date=May 24, 2022}}

Military career

Upon graduation from West Point, Edens was commissioned as a lieutenant in the United States Army.{{cite web |last1=Boehringer |first1=Alexa |title=U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center welcomes new commander |url=https://www.southeastsun.com/daleville/article_6bf1c02a-2c8c-11e4-8630-001a4bcf6878.html |website=southeastsun.com |publisher=The Southeast Sun |access-date=14 September 2021}} He became an Army helicopter pilot, and later was an instructor pilot at the Fort Rucker Apache Course.{{cite web |last1=Rosencrans |first1=Aaron |title=Soldier fights battles from above |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/printable/19505 |access-date=15 September 2021 |publisher=Multi-National Division - Baghdad |quote=Courtesy Story}} As a major, Edens served as the Regimental Operations and Training Officer for the 4th squadron 9th Cavalry Regiment in Fort Wainwright, Alaska.{{Cite journal|last1=Hinkel |first1=Thomas N |last2=Edens|first2=Timothy J|last3=Watson |first3=Raymond L |date=Jan–Feb 1995|title=Making It Happen - Operations with Nonmodernized Aircraft|url=https://archive.org/details/sim_united-states-army-aviation-digest_january-february-1995_1 |issue=January/February 1995 |journal=United States Army Aviation Digest |publisher=Department of the Army |page=34|via=archive.org}} In August 2006, Colonel Edens took command of the newly restructured 12th Combat Aviation Brigade. He commanded the 12th CAB as Task Force XII while the brigade was deployed to Balad Air Base and Camp Taji, Iraq.{{cite news |last1=Londoño |first1=Ernesto |title=In Iraq, a Surge in U.S. Airstrikes |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/22/AR2008052203869.html |access-date=22 September 2021 |agency=Washington Post |date=23 May 2008}}{{cite web |last1=Little |first1=Brandon |title=Task Force XII hands control to Task Force 49, begins new mission |url=https://www.army.mil/article/6506/task_force_xii_hands_control_to_task_force_49_begins_new_mission |website=Army.mil |date=December 10, 2007 |publisher=Army |access-date=June 24, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Hughes |first1=Jim |title=12th CAB Soldiers return home after 'magnificent' performance in Iraq |url=https://www.army.mil/article/13172/12th_cab_soldiers_return_home_after_magnificent_performance_in_iraq |website=Army.mil |date=October 9, 2008 |publisher=Army |access-date=June 24, 2021}} Upon his return, Colonel Edens was award the Legion of Merit by Army General Carter Ham for his successful leadership of Task Force XII in OIF 07–09.{{cite news |last1=McNair |first1=Sonja |title=Griffins welcome new leader |url=https://archive.org/details/B-001-001-142/0209 |access-date=15 September 2021 |newspaper=Bavarian News |publisher=U.S. Army Garrison-Grafenwoehr Public Affairs Office |volume=5|issue=2 |date=28 Jan 2009}} Following his assignment commanding 12th CAB, Edens became the Deputy Commanding General for Support, 2nd Infantry Division in Korea.{{cite web |last1=Cruz |first1=Brandy |title=Wolf bids farewell to Safety Center and the Army during ceremony |url=https://www.southeastsun.com/fortrucker/article_752f6958-bcb3-11e1-b6ac-0019bb30f31a.html |website=southeastsun.com |publisher=The Southeast Sun |access-date=15 September 2021}} Edens was promoted to brigadier general by Maj. Gen. Anthony G. Crutchfield in March 2011,{{cite journal|title= Executive nominations received by the Senate | publisher= U.S. Government Publishing Office|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRECB-2010-pt11/html/CRECB-2010-pt11-Pg16031-6.htm|journal=Congressional Record (Bound Edition)|volume= 156 (2010), Part 11| pages=16031–16033 |access-date=December 25, 2019}} and thereafter served as assistant division commander for support and the senior ranking aviator of the division.Jon Rabiroff, "Army helicopter pilot hits flying milestone", Honolulu Star-Advertiser (May 11, 2012), p. S-12. General Edens subsequently was assigned as Deputy Commander of the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker.{{cite web |title=Center welcomes new commander: Farnsworth assumes command from Edens |url=https://dothaneagle.com/army_flier/news/center-welcomes-new-commander-farnsworth-assumes-command-from-edens/article_7feaba90-2ec2-11e4-b356-001a4bcf6878.html |website=Dothan Eagle |date=August 28, 2014 |url-access=limited |access-date=June 24, 2021}} His final assignment with the US Army was as commander of the United States Army Combat Readiness Center.{{cite news |last1=Powell |first1=Art |title=Practice what you preach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/263731112 |access-date=15 September 2021 |via=newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |date=22 May 2014}}

While in command of the USACRC, he started several safety initiatives seemingly resulting in a downward trend in reported accidents Army-wide.{{cite news |last1=Shelley |first1=Julie |title=Army releases second quarter data; downward trend continues |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/263560715 |access-date=15 September 2021 |via=newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |date=11 Apr 2013}} Edens was also openly critical of military budget cuts in and how it could potentially effect the safety of soldiers.{{Cite news|title=Brig. Gen. Edens said military cuts would affect Safety Center civilians|url=https://dothaneagle.com/enterprise_ledger/news/brig-gen-edens-said-military-cuts-would-affect-safety-center-civilians/article_1ffdfaa0-7e9e-11e2-9c36-0019bb30f31a.html|date=February 24, 2013|access-date=September 13, 2021|newspaper=Dothan Eagle|location=Dothan, Alabama |language=en |url-access=limited}}

At his retirement ceremony, he was awarded the Order of St. Michael Gold Award for serving the Army Aviation community with distinction.{{cite news |title=Center Welcomes New Commander |url=https://home.army.mil/rucker/application/files/4515/6562/3271/AF20140828.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915121633/https://home.army.mil/rucker/application/files/4515/6562/3271/AF20140828.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 15, 2021 |access-date=15 September 2021 |agency=US Army |issue=34 |publisher=Army Flyer |date=28 Aug 2014|volume=64 }}{{cite web |title=ORDER OF ST. MICHAEL AWARD |url=https://www.quad-a.org/Public/Awards/Order_of_Saint_Michael/Public/Awards/Order_of_Saint_Michael.aspx?hkey=7aea8ea5-92f8-4f6a-93b6-08fc5caddabc |website=Army Aviation Association of America |access-date=15 September 2021}}

Post-retirement

After retiring from the military, Edens worked for AECOM and subsequently Amentum in Daleville, Alabama as Director of Aviation Operations and Readiness.{{Cite web|title=Tim Edens Profile - The International Alumni Association|url=https://www.thealumniassociation.com/home/4840240-tim-edens/profile|access-date=2021-09-14|website=www.thealumniassociation.com}} He is also secretary of the Army Aviation Association of America.{{Cite web|title=AAAA National Executive Board|url=https://www.quad-a.org/Public/Contact_AAAA/About_AAAA/National_Executive_Board/Public/About/AAAA_National_Executive_Board.aspx?hkey=32992e35-a8d1-4db9-bb7c-d6b1a039301f|access-date=2021-09-14|website=www.quad-a.org}}

Decorations and badges

From{{cite web |last1=Shelley |first1=Julie |title=Army releases fourth quarter accident data |url=https://www.army.mil/article/88966/army_releases_fourth_quarter_accident_data |website=army.mil |date=October 11, 2012 |publisher=US Army |access-date=16 September 2021}}

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Legion of Merit (with oak leaf cluster)

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ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Bronze Star Medal

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ribbon=Defense_Meritorious_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Defense Meritorious Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}22px22px22px

|Meritorious Service Medal (with three oak leaf clusters)

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ribbon=Air_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}