News from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission

Jim Palmer, Director of Information

January 31, 2000

(OKLAHOMA CITY) – The man who has held the top administrative position with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission longer than anyone will take on a new challenge outside the commission beginning April 1.

Jay Edwards has announced he will become president of the Aerospace Science and Technology Educational Center (ASTEC) in Oklahoma City. In a meeting with commission directors, Edwards said "it was time for a new vision," and time to "get up on the next plateau" as he described his future duties with the non-profit organization.

Edwards says the vision of ASTEC is to expand Oklahoma’s rich heritage as a leader in aviation, space, technology and the quality of life. The Center, located at Shepard Mall, is currently a part of Oklahoma City University but will separate from the University to become not for profit concurrent with Edwards new position.

Corporation Commission Chairman Bob Anthony praised Edwards saying "I wish Jay Edwards well with his future endeavors in aeronautics and education. Under his six years of leadership as General Administrator, he has done a magnificent job of modernizing the Corporation Commission and improving services to the public. His patriotism and dedication to public service, first through a distinguished military career and later at the commission, set a high standard for the youth of Oklahoma."

Anthony said one of the goals Edwards accomplished "was to change the culture of the Corporation Commission from a strictly regulatory environment to an atmosphere that thinks of the public as customers and how to best satisfy the needs of those customers."

Edwards became general administrator in November 1993. His service of six years and two months is nearly twice as long as that of any of his six predecessors since the position was created by the Oklahoma Legislature in 1979.

Edwards was hired by Commissioners Bob Anthony, Cody Graves and J.C. Watts. He was one of five finalists selected by the commissioners from among 76 candidates

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page 2, Edwards

certified as qualified by the state Office of Personnel Management from 370 applicants.

Edwards, a career Air Force officer with 28 years of service, retired as a major general in 1982 after serving two years as commander of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker Air Force Base.

He was executive director of the University of Oklahoma Energy center from 1982 until 1985 and president and chief operating officer of CMI Corporation from 1986 to 1991.

Edwards worked for Tennessee Associates International, a management consulting firm, until joining the Corporation Commission.

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