), is an American aerospace engineer, former naval officer, aviator, test pilot and NASA astronaut.

[1] He graduated from Lineville High School in 1976 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 1980.

[2] On November 13, 1991, while serving as maintenance officer of VF-142, he was flying in the Persian Gulf at Mach 0.9 at 29,000 feet (8,800 m) when the radome separated from his airplane, impacted, and destroyed his canopy.

With a blinded eye, collapsed lung, broken arm and no communications or flight instruments, he recovered his "convertible" Tomcat with his Radar Intercept Officer LCDR Scott Grundmeier hunkered down in the rear cockpit and landed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.

[4] Selected as an astronaut by NASA in December 1994, Edwards reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995.

[3] Edwards flew on STS-89 (January 22–31, 1998), the eighth Shuttle-Mir docking mission, during which the crew transferred more than 9,000 pounds (4,100 kg) of scientific equipment, logistical hardware and water from Space Shuttle Endeavour to Mir.