Combining Southern charm with clear-eyed analysis, Jim Edwards brings nearly 20 years of Washington experience in the political, public policy, and communication arenas. As a Principal at the DC consulting firm the MITA Group, he consults to corporate, association, and nonprofit clients on issues from health care to homeland security, immigration to other Judiciary Committee issues.

Previously, Dr. Edwards was an executive at the respected Healthcare Leadership Council, focusing on communications and lobbying on those health issues under the Judiciary Committee such as antitrust and biomedical liability protection. On Capitol Hill, he served as U.S. Rep. Ed Bryant's Legislative Director, handling the Congressman's Judiciary Committee assignment. He also was Senior Speechwriter at the Republican National Committee, Press Secretary and Legislative Assistant for U.S. Rep. John Duncan, Jr., and began his congressional career on the staff of U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, later becoming Sen. Thurmond's Special Assistant on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Co-author of The Congressional Politics of Immigration Reform, he has written and spoken extensively on policy issues and process. The respected publication Vital Speeches of the Day selected one of Dr. Edwards' speeches as a "Speech of the Month". He was an Adjunct Fellow with the Hudson Institute for a decade and was selected as a 1998 Lincoln Fellow with the Claremont Institute. Dr. Edwards has advised political campaigns, including as a Co-Chairman of the 2008 Mitt Romney for President Faith and Values Advisory Committee, Ed Bryant's 2006 U.S. Senate campaign, and several U.S. House campaigns. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee.