Zeta Soror Sheryl Edwards, sets standard in military, civic life

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Sheryl Edwards, top ranking military noncommissioned officer

A loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, mentor and community activist, Sheryl Edwards is known to a great number of people in the Fort Wayne community. What many might not know, however, is that she is a history making military veteran. She distinguished herself by becoming the first African American female solider to be promoted to the rank of command sergeant major from the Fort Wayne area—the highest rank a noncommissioned officer can achieve in the United States Army.

During her military career, Edwards held numerous positions of increasing responsibility during her four years on active duty at Fort Lewis, Wash., and subsequent 16 years in the Army Reserve including:

• First Sergeant, 425th Personnel Services Company in Indianapolis;
• Operations Sergeant Major at the 5030th United States Army Reserve Leadership School with responsibility for assigning more than 100 instructors to teach leadership courses throughout the state; and ultimately,
• Command Sergeant Major of the 337th Combat Support Hospital in Indianapolis.

As the senior noncommissioned officer at the hospital, Edwards was responsible for managing more than 400 soldiers assigned to the unit. The mission of the unit was to provide medical support to soldiers. Edwards also served a tour of duty in Saudi Arabia during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. She retired from the United States Army Reserve after 20 years of service.

Edwards is a wife, mother of two, Ericka and Andre, a motorcycle rider and officer of the American Legion Riders Post 148 Chapter. She is employed as a manager at Indiana Michigan Power. She has a bachelor’s degree from IPFW and a master’s degree in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Despite an already busy home and work schedule, she is very active in the Fort Wayne Community serving in various capacities for a number of organizations including:

• President, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Eta Upsilon Zeta Chapter.
• Board member of the MLK Club Inc.
• Member of Women’s International Network of Utility Professionals.
• Volunteer for the American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana and a certified senior human resources professional.

Edwards also is a Fort Wayne Community Schools Study Connection tutor, a member of the NAACP, Urban League, Northern Indiana Human Resources Association, and Mayor’s Diversity Advisory Council. She is also a graduate of Leadership Fort Wayne and past president of the Indiana Affirmative Action Association, Boys & Girls Club, and Limberlost Girl Scouts.

When recently asked how she does all of these things, she replied in the words of the Nike slogan: “Just Do It.”

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