Robert A. Edwards, Director, DFAS Cleveland

Robert A. Edwards is the Site Director, Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) Cleveland. He manages the day-to-day operations conducted by more than 2,500 accounting and finance personnel for the Department of Defense.

DFAS Cleveland personnel pay the operational expenses for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The site provides pay support to 3.6 million people, including active duty, reserve and civilian employees of the Navy, Marine Corps, Department of Energy, Health and Human Services and the Broadcast Board of Governors, as well as military retirees and annuitants from all four Service branches. DFAS Cleveland processes over 65 percent of all DFAS disbursements in approximately 8M-10M transactions per month, totaling $25.9 billion.

Mr. Edwards served as deputy director of the DFAS Cleveland site from mid-2012 until he assumed his present position in June 2014.  From May 2010 to July 2012, Mr. Edwards was the Director of DFAS Japan, where he led 250 U.S. civilian and local national employees providing a range of accounting and finance support to all U.S. military branches of Service located throughout Japan and the Western Pacific Theater.

Prior to his assignment in Japan, Mr. Edwards served as the Deputy Director, Military Pay Operations – Indianapolis (Air Force). His staff provided accurate and timely military pay support to over 520,000 Air Force active, reserve and Air National Guard members. While assigned to DFAS Denver, he held several leadership positions within Air Force Military Pay Operations including serving as its director from November 2008 through October 2009. Additionally, he served as DFAS program manager for the Wounded Warrior Pay Management Program from March thru October 2008.  In this role, Mr. Edwards had oversight responsibility for the Department of Defense’s pay related efforts and initiatives in support of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who became wounded, ill or injured while serving our nation in combat.

Mr. Edwards joined DFAS in September 2005 after serving for over 28 years in the U.S. Army. He held every noncommissioned officer leadership position within the US Army Finance Corps culminating with his assignment as Command Sergeant Major, 13th Finance Group, Fort Hood, Texas. He was assigned to a wide variety of stateside and overseas locations including Fort Carson, Ft. Hood, Ft. Meade, Fort Ritchie, Germany, Panama, and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Mr. Edwards served combat tours during both Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom.

Mr. Edwards has a Bachelor of Science degree from Excelsior College where he graduated with honors. While in the Army he was awarded the Distinguished Member of the Regiment Medallion and earned numerous awards including the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star.

Mr. Edwards is a member of the American Society of Military Comptrollers. He is also a lifetime member of the Finance Corps Association, Non Commissioned Officers Association, Association of the United States Army, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He entered into the Senior Executive Service in July 2012.

Page updated July 6, 2020