Retired U.S. Army Colonel Edna W. Cummings is an Army brat and native of Fayetteville, North Carolina. She received her commission in the U.S. Army from Appalachian State University’s Army ROTC program. She then embarked on a distinguished 25-year military career culminating with senior-level positions at Georgetown University, the Pentagon, and NORAD/USNORTHCOM.

Since 2018, Col. Cummings has worked to bring recognition to the WWII Women’s Army Corps unit designated as African American, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, also known as the Six Triple Eight. During WWII, the 6888th was the only African-American WAC unit to serve overseas. She also championed the effort with Congress to enact the passage of the Six Triple Eight Congressional Gold Medal Act. In March 2022, President Biden signed the legislation into law awarding the 6888th the nation’s highest civilian honor. She is a consultant for the upcoming 6888th Broadway-bound musical.

Col. Cummings is a former member of Appalachian State University’s Foundation Board of Directors. She is a current member of the Military Advisory Board of the History Makers, the nation’s largest African-American video oral history archive. She is also an Army Reserve Ambassador for the state of Maryland, a volunteer special government employee equivalent to a Major General (two-star) in the Armed Forces.

In addition to a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College (Carlisle, Pennsylvania), Col. Cummings holds a Master of Science in Foundations of Education from Troy State University in Alabama. As an Army officer, she received the Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medals (three awards), and Army Commendation Awards (four awards). She also received the Joint Service Commendation Award, Army Superior Unit, Reserve Forces Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.

In March 2020, Col. Cummings was inducted into the Army Women’s Foundation Hall of Fame. The Military Officers Association of America selected her as one of its national Changemakers. In July 2022, she received the NAACP’s Jesse Brown Leadership Award.