Lieutenant General
Edward G. Anderson III, U.S. Army
Edward G. Anderson III, U.S. Army
Hall of Fame, Class of 2023
Lieutenant General Edward G. Anderson III
U.S. Army, Retired
Inducted 2023
Edward G. Anderson III was born 18 November 1943 in San Diego, CA. He enlisted in the U.S. Army prior to attending the United States Military Academy where he graduated with a BS in Engineering in 1966 and was commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer. He later graduated from the British Higher Command and Staff College, received an MS in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, and an MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. He commanded at many levels from CPT to LTG, commanding FA units in the US, Korea, Germany, and Vietnam. He was the assistant division commander in both 3d Infantry and 1st Armored, and the Assistant Deputy Chief of Operations for Force Development (ADCSOPS-FD), responsible for developing the Army's modernization strategy and funding priorities. He commanded the Army Space and Missile Defense Command and conducted a detailed and comprehensive review of the organization's mission, resulting in a re-focused command. He was the first officer from a field artillery background to assume command of SMDC. He was then selected to become the Director of Strategic Plans and Policy (DJ5) on the Joint Staff where he conducted strategic planning and developed strategic policy for the entire U.S. military during a critical time frame which included Kosovo operations. J5 was also responsible for developing Joint Vision 2020, the path for bringing the military into the 21st Century, and for guiding and overseeing the development of Unified Command Plan 21 (UCP 21), approved by the CJCS, SECDEF, and the President. He also served as the military advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. He then served as the Deputy Commander/Chief of Staff of U.S. Space Command where he was responsible for overseeing the development and execution of the concept for a Joint Task Force for Computer Network Operations which involved close interaction with multiple organizations to include the CIA, DIA, NSA and NGA. He was also responsible for overseeing the development and execution of the concept for a Space and Information Operations Element (SIOE) which was deployed to Tampa in support of Central Command (CENTCOM) during OEF and OIF. His final assignment was as the Deputy Commander of U.S. Northern Command and Vice Commander, USELEMENT, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) where he was responsible for guiding the development and led the implementation of the plan for establishing U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM). He retired in 2004 after 39 years of combined enlisted and commissioned active military service. Following retirement, Anderson has continued to serve in multiple capacities including President of the National Homeland Defense Foundation, President of the Pikes Peak Military Care Network, and Executive Director of the Strategic Military, Science, Space and Security Initiatives at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.