He graduated from the Police Academy 1968.
Wagdy was the head of Cairo criminal investigations department and the head of prisons. He was appointed interior minister by President Hosni Mubarak on 31 January 2011, replacing Habib al-Adly. Wagdy"s tenure lasted brief and was replaced by Mansour el-Essawy who was appointed by Prime Minister Essam Sharaf on 5 March 2011.