Leon Albert "Bud" Edney

Admiral, U.S. Navy

Leon Albert "Bud" Edney was born on 1 March 1935 in Dedham, MA. Edney was commissioned as an Ensign in 1957, following his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy.

On 1 October 1988, Denney was promoted to the four-star rank of Admiral and assigned as Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO). During his tenure as VCNO, in 1989 Edney helped preside over, and supported, the Navy's first investigation into the USS Iowa turret explosion. The Navy's conclusions in that investigation were later criticized and discredited by Congress and by an independent review by the Government Accounting Office and Sandia National Laboratories.

In May 1990, Edney assumed duties as Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT) and as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (USCINCLANT).

Admiral Edney retired from the Navy in August 1992.

Medals and Awards

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal

In Retirement

After his retirement, Edney was appointed as an éminence grise for the Center for Naval Analyses and the National Defense University. In April 1997, Charles R. Larson selected Edney to fill the post of Distinguished Professor of Leadership at the U.S. Naval Academy. In this position, Edney was charged with "teaching core leadership and ethics courses and promoting moral development and leadership education" to academy students.

In addition to his duties as a Capstone Senior Fellow, Admiral Edney serves as a Senior Fellow at the Center for Naval Analyses, and is Director of the Armed Forces Benefit Services, Inc. and The Retired Officers Association. He has also in recent years been awarded government contracts to perform education services for the National Defense University.

Admiral Edney serves on the Board of Advisors for the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs.