Ashley Edwards

Executive Director, Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission

Edwards was named Executive Director of the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission in 2013. He leads a team tasked with operating The Port Bienville Shortline Railroad, Port Bienville Industrial Complex, Stennis International Airport, and the Economic Development Authority for Hancock County. Ashley led the effort that recently resulted in the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission receiving the Mississippi Economic Development Council’s 2014 award for excellence in business recruitment for landing SpaceX’s Raptor Engine development program in Hancock County. In February 2015, Ashley was named as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Rising Stars in Economic Development by Development Counsellors International.

Edwards has served as Executive Director of Governor Phil Bryant’s Office of Recovery, where he was responsible for overseeing the closeout of Mississippi’s Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts. Edwards also served as Deputy Director of Governor Haley Barbour’s Office of Recovery and Renewal, where he was a member of the team responsible for coordinating the State of Mississippi’s long-term recovery from Hurricane Katrina.

Edwards is a native of Petal, MS and an alumnus of The University of Southern Mississippi, where he received his Master’s Degree in Economic Development, and Tulane University, where he received his bachelor’s degree and was a recipient of the prestigious Tulane 34 Award. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Economic Development Council, the Trent Lott Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, The United Way of South Mississippi, Partners for Stennis Space Center, and the Mississippi Enterprise for Technology.