Temika Edwards, '23

Temika Edwards, CERG Chief Risk Officer '23, serves as the Chief Financial, Strategy, and Risk Officer at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR). In this capacity, she manages a $180 million budget and leads efforts to enhance financial management, risk assessment, and strategic planning processes. Her work focuses on improving internal controls and promoting data-driven decision-making to ensure the effective and efficient stewardship of taxpayer funds. 

A champion of risk management since 2006, Edwards began her career in the banking industry before transitioning to federal service in 2009. She has held key positions at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General (OIG), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) OIG, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). At TSA, she played a pivotal role in launching the agency’s initial efforts to integrate Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) into its processes and policies to safeguard the homeland. She later brought her expertise to DHS OIG and HUD OIG, where she successfully embedded ERM into strategic planning, human capital management, and financial planning—marking a first for both organizations.

Since 2019, Edwards has chaired the Council of Inspectors General for Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) ERM Working Group, which includes 93 members from approximately 75 OIGs. In January 2023, she developed and hosted the inaugural federal, state, and local Agile Leadership Forum in collaboration with the Pandemic Relief Accountability Committee, focusing on innovative oversight strategies. In October 2024, Edwards achieved certification as a member of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s Senior Executive Service. She is also a June 2023 graduate of George Mason University’s Chief Risk Officer program, where she was a scholarship recipient. Most recently, she was a featured speaker at the November 2024 AFERM Summit, presenting on "The Role of the Risk Champion.”

Edwards holds a Doctor of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership from Northcentral University, where she completed her dissertation on Evaluating Leadership Development of Millennials in the Federal Government in December 2017. She earned her Master of Business Administration from Meredith College in May 2009 and her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from North Carolina Central University in May 2005.