Executive profile
Leadership forged through service.
Eddie L. Washington, Jr. is a nationally experienced public safety executive, strategic advisor, educator, and organizational leader.
Executive profile
Four decades of consequential leadership.
His leadership spans military service, law enforcement, emergency management, homeland security, higher education, corporate security, and organizational resilience. As Founder and Principal of The Blue Diamond Group, Washington advises executives, institutions, public agencies, and organizations on prevention, preparedness, protection, leadership development, organizational resilience, and complex strategic challenges.
His career has been defined by helping organizations anticipate risk, strengthen leadership and operational systems, protect people and critical assets, and build the capacity to perform effectively under pressure.
University of Michigan leadership
Institution-wide safety and readiness.
Washington most recently served as Executive Director of the University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security, reporting directly to the university president and providing executive counsel on institution-wide safety, security, emergency preparedness, and risk. He led the integration of public safety functions across the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses, strengthening law enforcement, security, emergency management, threat assessment, communications, technology, prevention, and community engagement.
Statewide public safety & homeland security
Leadership across Michigan.
Before joining the University of Michigan, Washington completed a distinguished 26-year career with the Michigan State Police, ultimately serving as Colonel and Director. He also served as Michigan’s State Director of Emergency Management and Director of Homeland Security, providing statewide leadership in law enforcement, emergency preparedness, intelligence, critical-infrastructure protection, homeland security, and interagency coordination.
Washington played a key role in establishing Michigan’s Critical Infrastructure Protection capability and the Michigan Infrastructure Coordinating Committee, strengthening collaboration among government, public safety, healthcare, education, private industry, and community partners.
Organizational leadership
Clarity. Preparation. Accountability.
Throughout his career, Washington has led organizational transformation, strategic planning, workforce and leadership development, technology modernization, operational integration, governance, and multi-agency collaboration. His leadership approach emphasizes clarity, preparation, accountability, collaboration, and resilient systems capable of performing before, during, and after disruption.
Education & executive development
Washington has served as a supervisor and instructor with the Michigan State Police Training Academy and as an adjunct professor at Wayne County Community College, teaching law enforcement and criminal investigations. He holds degrees from Wayne County Community College and William Tyndale College, with advanced executive development through:
- FBI National Academy
- Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command
- Naval Postgraduate School Executive Leadership Program
He has also served on numerous boards, committees, and advisory bodies focused on homeland security, intelligence, critical infrastructure, interoperability, community safety, and public safety.
Leadership philosophy
Helping organizations anticipate what can be anticipated, protect what matters most, prepare people and systems for what may occur, and build the capacity to respond, recover, adapt, and lead when it matters most.