Born in Atlanta, Ed grew up in the Southeast and attended Furman University in Greenville, SC where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics and the designation of Distinguished Military Graduate with his Army commission in 1992. A graduate of the US Army Ranger School, Ed served as a Regular Army officer for nine years with leadership assignments in Europe, North Africa, and the Persian Gulf. Ed completed active duty at Fort Stewart, GA as the Commander of the 200+ soldier truck transportation company in the 3rd Infantry Division.