Sir Edward Clifford Cornford, KCB (6 February 1918 – 6 May 1999) was a British civil servant and government scientist.
Educated at Jesus College, Cambridge, he entered the Royal Aircraft Establishment in 1938 as a junior scientific officer.
He was part of the Air Warfare Analysis Section from the outset of its existence and throughout the Second World War.
He was chairman of the Defence Research Policy Staff (1961–65), before serving as Chief Scientist (Army) from 1965 to 1968, then Deputy Chief Adviser (Research and Studies) from 1968 to 1969.
In retirement, he was a director of the Post Office from 1981 to 1987 and chairman of Raytheon Europe from 1982 to 1991.