Major General Edward Reeder graduated from Appalachian State University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology.
His duty assignments include:
- Rifle Platoon Leader, A Company, later Executive Officer, B Company, later S-1 (Adjutant), 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division (Forward), United States Army Europe, Germany
- Detachment Commander, B Company, 3d Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Davis, Panama, with duty at United States Military Group, El Salvador and OPERATION JUST CAUSE, Panama
- Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
- Army Ground Operations Planner, Joint Special Operations Command, US Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
- Commander, B Company, later S-3 (Operations), 3d Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), United States Army Special Forces Command (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina
- Regional Counterdrug Desk Officer, United States Southern Command, Quarry Heights, Panama
- Chief, Integration and Training, later Chief, J-3 (Plans), Joint Interagency Task Force South, United States Southern Command, Quarry Heights, Panama
- S-3 (Operations), later Executive Officer, later Deputy Commander, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), United States Army Special Forces Command (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina
- Commander, 2d Battalion, 3d Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan
- Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 (Operations), United States Army Special Forces Command (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina
- Commander, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Commander, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan
- Commander, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
- Executive Officer to the Commander, United States Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida
- Commander, Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command - Afghanistan, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan
- Commanding General, United States Army Special Forces Command (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina
- Commanding General, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Combat Infantryman Badge (with Star), Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, and the Special Forces Tab. He was awarded Appalachian State's Distinguished Alumni Award in 2013.