Edward grew up in New Castle, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Union High School in 2000. A devoted football fan, he especially loved Notre Dame and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Friends and family remember him as a natural leader—humble, selfless, and always putting others first.

In January 2005, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as an infantryman. He served with distinction in Fox Company (Pathfinder), 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. On May 26, 2011, during his third deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Edward was killed in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, while on foot patrol.

His legacy endures in the hearts of his family, friends, and comrades.