At the age of 31, Dr. Kenneth R. Rutherford was conducting humanitarian relief work in Somalia to alleviate the suffering of thousands, when his vehicle ran over a landmine, which resulted in the loss of both his legs. Since that time ... Ken has been recognized by celebrities, such as the late Diana, Princess of Wales, President Bill Clinton, Sir Paul and Heather Mills McCartney and Oprah as an inspirational leader.

While studying political science at the University of Colorado in the mid-1980s, Ken Rutherford decided to work in international development. Since graduating in 1985, he has worked in Bosnia for the Department of Defense and Department of State, and in Africa for the Peace Corps (Mauritania), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (Senegal), and International Rescue Committee (Kenya and Somalia).  

After losing his legs to a landmine in Somalia in 1993, he earned his doctorate at Georgetown University, and has traveled worldwide to speak out to promote awareness of the mass suffering caused by these weapons and for the economic and social rights for the landmine disabled. Rutherford has testified before Congress and published articles on the landmine issue in academic and policy journals. Rutherford was awarded the 1999 Leadership in International Rehabilitation Award presented by the Northwestern University Institute for International Rehabilitation and is co-founder of the Landmine Survivors Network, which serves on the coordinating committee of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, recipient of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize. 

As an advocate for people with disabilities affected by landmines, he has appeared on all the major network evening news shows, Dateline, Nightline, and National Public Radio’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered. His personal story of recovering from his accident to pursue his dreams of marrying his fiancé, have children and becoming a professor has been profiled by the Oprah Winfrey Show, Reader’s Digest and the BBC. 

Rutherford has co-edited two books: Reframing the Agenda: The Impact of NGO and Middle Power Cooperation in International Security Policy (released on October 1, 2003 by Greenwood Press) and Landmines and Human Security: The International Movement to Ban Landmines (released on June 3, 2004 by State University of New York Press). Dr. Rutherford has published in numerous academic and policy journals, including World Politics, Journal of International Politics, Journal of International Peace, Alternatives, Non-Proliferation Review and Security Dialogue.  Dr. Rutherford is currently Assistant Professor of Political Science at Missouri State University, where he teaches international relations, international organization and American Citizenship and Democracy.