R.A. Edwards & Associates Inc.

The Team

RICHARD A. EDWARDS

Dick Edwards is President of R.A. Edwards & Associates, Inc. and Managing Director of the Rodriguez Group, a wholly owned subsidiary. He has over thirty-five years of experience in business, corporate security program management and Federal law enforcement.

Background & Experience:

Following graduation from Centre College of Kentucky Edwards joined South Central Bell Telephone Company and spent three years in its Management Development Training Program. While with SCB he developed and coordinated joint programs with the FBI and Kentucky State Police resulting in substantial reductions in telephone toll fraud and copper wire theft in southwestern Kentucky. From 1970 to 1985 Edwards was a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. During assignments in Washington D.C., Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan he investigated violations of Federal bank fraud and embezzlement, property crime, bank robbery, kidnapping/extortion and ‘white collar’ crime statutes and was assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Organized Crime Strike Force in Detroit for four years. His involvement in a number of high profile investigations of regional and national significance resulted in receipt of numerous commendations from the FBI Director and from superiors for investigative achievement, statistical accomplishment and sustained excellence in performance.

In 1985 Edwards joined the corporate security staff of Cooper Industries Inc, a Houston based Fortune 500 manufacturer of oil and gas transmission equipment, automotive products, tools and hardware, and electrical products with worldwide operations. After serving as Senior Security Specialist, Associate Director of Security and Assistant Director of Corporate Security he was named Director of Corporate Security in 1995. While with Cooper he conducted and/or directed hundreds of investigations in the areas of employee theft; internal and external fraud; warehouse and cargo theft; workplace drug trafficking; export product diversion and gray market fraud; product counterfeiting; criminal misuse of company computer and internet facilities; and Code of Conduct violations. He conducted site surveys and threat assessments in connection with the company’s comprehensive physical security program; coordinated executive protection and employee travel security; and provided litigation support. As director, Edwards developed, implemented and enforced policy defining the security environment for the Company’s 130 manufacturing facilities and 40,000 employees.

In June, 2000 Edwards left Cooper to form R.A. Edwards & Associates and quickly established a reputation as a premier provider of professional security consulting, investigative and management services. Using a network of highly experienced and skilled strategic partners around the world, his firm serves a growing number of U. S. based multinational companies, law firms and organizations. His extensive international experience includes management of investigations, executive protection assignments and physical security projects in Canada, Mexico, South America, Western Europe, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.

Professional Affiliations:

• American Society for Industrial Security
• Former Chairman, ASIS Standing Committee on Workplace Substance Abuse & Drug Investigations
• Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI
• National Drug Enforcement Officers Association/Corporate Advisory Committee
• Licensed Private Investigator and Security Consultant, State of Texas



The Team RICHARD A. EDWARDS Dick Edwards is President of R.A. Edwards & Associates, Inc. and Managing Director of the Rodriguez Group, a wholly owned subsidiary. He has over thirty-five years of experience in business, corporate security program management and Federal law enforcement. Background & Experience: Following graduation from Centre College of Kentucky Edwards joined South Central Bell Telephone Company and spent three years in its Management Development Training Program. While with SCB he developed and coordinated joint programs with the FBI and Kentucky State Police resulting in substantial reductions in telephone toll fraud and copper wire theft in southwestern Kentucky. From 1970 to 1985 Edwards was a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. During assignments in Washington D.C., Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan he investigated violations of Federal bank fraud and embezzlement, property crime, bank robbery, kidnapping/extortion and ‘white collar’ crime statutes and was assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Organized Crime Strike Force in Detroit for four years. His involvement in a number of high profile investigations of regional and national significance resulted in receipt of numerous commendations from the FBI Director and from superiors for investigative achievement, statistical accomplishment and sustained excellence in performance. In 1985 Edwards joined the corporate security staff of Cooper Industries Inc, a Houston based Fortune 500 manufacturer of oil and gas transmission equipment, automotive products, tools and hardware, and electrical products with worldwide operations. After serving as Senior Security Specialist, Associate Director of Security and Assistant Director of Corporate Security he was named Director of Corporate Security in 1995. While with Cooper he conducted and/or directed hundreds of investigations in the areas of employee theft; internal and external fraud; warehouse and cargo theft; workplace drug trafficking; export product diversion and gray market fraud; product counterfeiting; criminal misuse of company computer and internet facilities; and Code of Conduct violations. He conducted site surveys and threat assessments in connection with the company’s comprehensive physical security program; coordinated executive protection and employee travel security; and provided litigation support. As director, Edwards developed, implemented and enforced policy defining the security environment for the Company’s 130 manufacturing facilities and 40,000 employees. In June, 2000 Edwards left Cooper to form R.A. Edwards & Associates and quickly established a reputation as a premier provider of professional security consulting, investigative and management services. Using a network of highly experienced and skilled strategic partners around the world, his firm serves a growing number of U. S. based multinational companies, law firms and organizations. His extensive international experience includes management of investigations, executive protection assignments and physical security projects in Canada, Mexico, South America, Western Europe, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. Professional Affiliations: • American Society for Industrial Security • Former Chairman, ASIS Standing Committee on Workplace Substance Abuse & Drug Investigations • Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI • National Drug Enforcement Officers Association/Corporate Advisory Committee • Licensed Private Investigator and Security Consultant, State of Texas