Maj. Edward Graham (Ret.)

Chief Operating Officer, Samaritan's Purse

As chief operating officer, Edward Graham oversees the international and domestic operations of Samaritan’s Purse. He frequently travels to disaster areas to coordinate operations and encourage families impacted by catastrophic events. He also meets with key government officials and church leaders in affected areas to establish relationships and to coordinate other essential support as staff and volunteers work to meet critical needs on the ground.

Graham has led Samaritan’s Purse responses to major world crises, including the war in Ukraine, the 2023 earthquake in Turkey, the Israel-Hamas War, Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina, the 2025 Myanmar earthquake, and Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica. In addition to directing large-scale responses, he has represented the ministry at the Pentagon on two occasions at the invitation of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and has traveled with former Vice President Mike Pence and with former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Ukraine. Graham has also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on multiple occasions to brief him on the organization’s life-saving aid for Ukrainians.

He is often found serving alongside our first teams on the ground in the immediate aftermath of major U.S. disasters, such as the catastrophic wildfires in southern California, the deadly flooding in central Texas, and widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Helene across the Southeast. Following Hurricane Helene, Graham led the operations for what officials called the largest civilian airlift to bring life-saving aid to isolated families in western North Carolina. Under his leadership, Samaritan’s Purse staff and volunteers continue to help hundreds of families rebuild their homes and restore their communities.

Graham has responsibility for ensuring that the day-to-day operations of the ministry’s locations in the U.S. and around the world reflect the highest standards of Biblical integrity, a commitment to excellence in our work, and above all, a dedication to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

He is the youngest son of Franklin and Jane Graham, and the grandson of Billy Graham. He graduated from the United States Military Academy and went on to serve 16 years in the U.S. Army. After multiple combat deployments within Special Operations and serving in various leadership positions, he felt called by the Lord to return home and serve in the ministry in the winter of 2018.

He and his wife, Kristy, have been married for 20 years, and have one daughter and three sons. They are raising their family in the mountains of North Carolina.