Interview 1 of 3 with Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Rardin - Intro and Afghanistan

In this first interview, Kevin discusses his background and his voluntary deployment to Afghanistan at the age of 49.  During this deployment he was awarded the Bronze Star, which to those that don't know, is a really big deal and means he did something WAY above and beyond the norm.  He discusses the hardest time of his deployment, which came many years after he returned home.  Kevin has been on local news in Memphis, TN several times objectively discussing what the Tennessee National Guard can do legally while deployed within the city.

Below I will post his background as written on International Organization for Transitional Justice and Peace website regarding his current activities during "retirement":  Kevin Rardin

Mr. Kevin Rardin brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the ITJP. With a distinguished career spanning over three decades, Mr. Rardin has served as a prosecutor for 33 years, representing the state of Tennessee in numerous high-profile jury trials involving serious crimes.

In addition to his prosecutorial work, Mr. Rardin spent five years as an assistant public defender, advocating for the rights of children in the Shelby County Juvenile Court. His commitment to justice extends beyond the courtroom, having served as an Army Reserve Judge Advocate for 21 years. During his service, Kevin completed a 12-month active duty tour in Kandahar, Afghanistan, where his efforts to strengthen the rule of law within the Afghan National Army earned him the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Action in a Combat Zone. He retired from the Army Reserve as a lieutenant colonel in 2010.

Kevin’s dedication to justice and human rights is further demonstrated by his active involvement in various organizations. He serves on the board of the Memphis Council of the United States Navy League and is a Fellow with both the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA) and Global Friends of Afghanistan (GFA). In 2019, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the “Best of Bar” in Memphis.

At ITJP, Kevin leverages his extensive legal expertise and deep commitment to human rights to support the organization’s mission of combating core international crimes, advocating for victims, demanding justice, and fostering lasting peace and human rights in Afghanistan. His experience and dedication are invaluable assets in the fight for justice and peace globally.