Rick Kuehn has served as a member of the Leadership Initiatives board since 2012 where he has worked tirelessly to expand internship opportunities for students interested in the fields of security, intelligence, and the armed forces.
Rick’s career has taken him all over the world, as a logistician, pilot, military officer, humanitarian, project engineer, executive, and more. He managed an engineering consulting start-up in Manhattan, led a water supply project in Kipingi, Kenya with Engineers Without Borders, responded to disasters with the American Red Cross in Greater New York, commanded an Air Force rapid-response team that responds to humanitarian and other emergencies, and led strategic level planning teams working directly for decision makers at the 4-Star level and above.
Rick earned a BA in history and a BE in computer engineering from Stevens Tech, an International Business MBA from the University of South Carolina, and a Masters in Military Studies from Marine Corps University.
The Kuehn Excellence in Security and Service Scholarship aims to further Rick’s efforts to expand educational opportunities to students interested in national security and international relations. The scholarship is designed to support and empower high school students who share Rick’s commitment to address the complex challenges of today’s security landscape
Eligibility:
The Kuehn Excellence in Security and Service Scholarship is open to top rising freshmen and graduating seniors who are interested in pursuing a career in business.
Deadline:
The Kuehn Excellence in Security and Service Scholarship applications must be received no later than December 5th, 2025, to be considered. All scholarship recipients will be announced on January 15th, 2026.
Scholarship Award:
The Kuehn Excellence in Security and Service Scholarship will award one full scholarship for the Leadership Initiatives National Security & Diplomacy Internship from July 5th - July 11th, 2026. The Kuehn Excellence in Security and Service Scholarship Fund will also award ten partial scholarships to promising students to attend the internship program.
1. Your academic interests
2. Your future education plans
3. How your future aspirations align with the goals of equitable development and national security