About Our School

Welcome to Edgren High School

Edgren Excellence History

Colonel Robert D. Edgren was commander of the 6920th Air Base Group, United States Air Force Security Service, and base commander, Misawa Air Base, Japan. He assumed this position in August 1973, following his assignment as Chief of Operations, Strategic Reconnaissance Center, Headquarters, Strategic Air command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.

Colonel Edgren was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 24, 1930. He graduated from Chicago public schools, and attended Iowa Wesleyan College, University of New Mexico, Ohio University, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Omaha. Colonel Edgren has performed post-graduate work at the University of Oklahoma.

Colonel Edgren entered the United States Navy on February 15, 1946, and during his three year enlistment served on Guam and Pearl Harbor with the Pacific Fleet Submarine Force. Following his discharge, he attended college until hostilities broke out in Korea. He attended the Air Force Electronics Fundamentals School in 1951, and was assigned as a Nuclear Weapons Technician at Sandia Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Colonel Edgren attended Officer Candidate School, and was named Distinguished Graduate upon commissioning on June 17, 1955.

Colonel Edgren's assignments included tours of duty as a navigator, instructor and standardization evaluator in the RB-47. He attended Squadron Officer School in 1959, and following his attendance at the Air Command and Staff College in 1965, he performed duties as reconnaissance staff officer for the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Forbes Air Force Base, Kansas and Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.

He was assigned to the 376th Strategic Wing, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, where he served as Chief of the Reconnaissance Division, and returned to Strategic Air Command Headquarters, at Offutt Air Force Base until his assignment to Misawa. At Misawa he was a popular base commander. Colonel Edgren's decorations include: the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 5 Battle Stars, and the Korean Service Medal.

Shortly after leaving Misawa, Colonel Edgren suffered a fatal heart attack. He was survived by the former Mary Gardner Blocher of Owensboro, Kentucky, and his three children, Cynthia, Donald, and Carol.