Rick Robison

RICK’S BACKGROUND (1980–2026): TO SERVE, TO INFLUENCE, TO INSPIRE

Rick’s life has been defined by one unwavering principle: To serve where it matters most.

Recruited into the U.S. Foreign Service in the early 1980s, Rick was trained and deployed as an Arabic-speaking diplomat after earning his master’s degree in Arabic and Middle East Area Studies from the University of Utah and the American University in Cairo, Egypt.

He served in some of the most volatile regions on earth, operating in Iraq during the brutal Iran-Iraq War, and later in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan throughout the Gulf War. There, he played a direct role in supporting the U.S.-led Coalition’s liberation of Kuwait—Operation Desert Storm—working alongside the Gulf War Task Force at this pivotal moment in time.

Following his diplomatic service, Rick continued advising American companies across the Middle East while carrying out critical U.S. Government contract work from 1995 to 2016, including vital projects in the years following the attacks of September 11, 2001.

When America went to war, Rick trained those who would carry the fight. From 2001 to 2007, he prepared members of the U.S. Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and National Guard for the realities they would face in the Middle East, equipping them not only with knowledge, but with confidence and clarity of mission. He was determined to bring as many home as possible.

At the same time, Rick invested deeply in the next generation. As a university adjunct professor from 1993 to 2007, he taught more than 100 courses and mentored over 3,000 students, leaving a lasting imprint far beyond the classroom.

As an author and storyteller, Rick has brought history to life. His book, The Liberation of Kuwait: Honoring the Veterans of Desert Storm, was produced in a 150,000-copy commemorative edition funded by the Kuwaiti government and distributed to veterans across all 50 states. Accompanied by a feature-length documentary showcased at the GI Film Festival in Washington, D.C. in 2018, the project stands as a powerful tribute to those who served honoring their sacrifices.

Rick is also the host of the HEROES FOR FREEDOM! podcast and YouTube channel. Multiple platforms dedicated to preserving hero stories of courage, sacrifice, and the ongoing fight for liberty in a world increasingly hostile to individual freedom.

For 40 years, Rick has traveled, studied, and worked across North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Southwest Asia, Turkey, Russia, Mexico, and Native American lands, including the Navajo and Ute reservations, where he filled a service and outreach mission for two years.

He speaks both Arabic and Navajo, bridging vastly different cultures few ever experience.

Today, Rick continues his mission of service alongside his wife, Robin, as Chaplain Support Volunteers at the Veterans Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, ministering to those who have borne the scars of war and the cost of freedom.

Rick’s story is one of action focusing on the commitment to serve, to teach, but mostly to inspire.