From Louisville to National Leadership: A&S Champion Awardee on Service, Education and Paying It Forward

David Rausch’s path from a University of Louisville political science student to a nationally recognized law enforcement leader has taken him from the U.S. Army and the Knoxville Police Department to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the presidency of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.  

Along the way, the Louisville native has advised policymakers, testified before Congress, and worked to advance approaches to public safety that address challenges including addiction, mental health and community well-being.  

Yet when Rausch looks back on the experiences that prepared him for those opportunities, he repeatedly returns to the foundation he built at UofL. 

Rausch earned his bachelor’s degree in political science in 1986 and later returned to UofL for graduate study in Justice Administration and advanced training through the Southern Police Institute.  

Today, he remains closely connected to his alma mater through alumni leadership, mentorship, and philanthropy — a commitment he sees as both giving back and helping prepare the next generation of leaders.  

He reflected on his experiences in this Q&A, as he has been named a 2026 A&S Champion Award recipient. 

Q: You’ve had an extraordinary career in public service. How did your experiences at UofL shape the way you approach leadership and your work today? 

A: It had a great impact on me, really from the professors I had the opportunity to learn from. One who had a great influence on me was Landis Jones in the political science department. I was struck by how brilliant he was, but also how practical he was. 

I was in his class when presidential candidates Reagan and Mondale came to Louisville to debate, and he was looking for volunteers. I volunteered, and I was able to watch how the parties prepared and then had the chance to be in the room while they were debating. Experiencing that as a young college student was amazing and had a real impact on my interest in public service.  

My courses gave me a foundation for understanding leadership, the presidency, history and government. Shortly after earning my degree, I joined the U.S. Army and served in the Military Police Corps. I enlisted, which was unusual for someone with a college degree, and my first sergeant recognized that background. He had me train the company on political issues and international conflicts. That was my first exposure to using what I had learned at the university in a real-world situation.  

That continued throughout my career. The foundation I got in politics and policy at Louisville has helped me tremendously. 

Q: Were there particular UofL professors or lessons that stayed with you throughout your career? 

A: Absolutely. B. Edward Campbell was probably one of the most impactful professors I had in my Justice Administration program. He taught constitutional law in a way that was so easy to understand, and he taught me how to brief Supreme Court cases — how to find the key information, understand the rulings and also understand the importance of the dissents.  

I still use that knowledge today. Years later, I was testifying before legislative committees in Tennessee about firearms legislation. Because of the training I received from Professor Campbell, I was able to brief two critical Supreme Court cases and explain what the court had actually said. 

When I finished that testimony, I told my deputy director, “If B. Edward Campbell were alive today, I’d call him and tell him thank you,” because what he taught me was how I was able to have that impact.  

Q: You returned to UofL several times throughout your education and career. What kept bringing you back? 

A: After the Army, I knew I wanted to go into civilian policing, and one thing the military taught me was that if you want to make an impact, you need to distinguish yourself. At that time, master’s degrees weren’t common in policing, so I came back to UofL using my GI Bill and enrolled in the Justice Administration program.  

Later, when I was with the Knoxville Police Department, I had the opportunity to return to UofL for the Southern Police Institute’s Administrative Officers Course. When I arrived, Deb Wilson saw me and said, “You haven’t finished your degree. We’re going to get it done.” 

So, while I was attending SPI, I finished my research and wrote my professional paper. While everyone else was out enjoying their evenings, I was in my dorm room doing research and typing. I got that degree done. 

That education became an important differentiator as I moved into leadership. When I competed to become chief of police, I was the youngest of the candidates and had the least time in service. My education and my experience connecting with the community helped distinguish me. I point a lot of that back to my days at the university and the knowledge I gained there. 

Q: How would you describe the leadership philosophy you developed over the course of your career? 

A: I consider myself a servant leader. Interestingly, I didn't actually have a name for it until I went through the Leadership Knoxville program. When I learned about servant leadership, I realized it described what I had always been doing. 

When I think about where that came from, I go back to my collegiate career and the professors I had. I saw those qualities in them. They built that foundation for me. 

Community engagement became an important part of that, too. I volunteered with nonprofits and learned about what was happening in the community around homelessness, addiction, and youth services. I learned what the community needed. That absolutely had an impact on my ability to become chief of police. 

Q: You’ve championed initiatives addressing substance abuse, mental health, childhood trauma, and community safety. What role do you believe law enforcement can play in building stronger communities? 

A: We have a primary role because we're among the most present in the community. I call it “one-on-one policing” — an officer can have a direct and really critical impact on an individual, a neighborhood and a community. 

One of the things I learned early was that arrest wasn't always the answer. There were resources I could connect people to instead. Of course, there are situations where an arrest has to be made, but I saw that officers sometimes lacked an understanding of mental illness, addiction or the resources available to help people.  

When I had the opportunity to work in our training division, I began bringing some of those ideas into the curriculum — making officers more aware of resources, different approaches and the importance of research. One of the things I learned at the university was how important research is and how you can use it to inform how you do things better. 

Law enforcement has a huge impact on the challenges society experiences because we're there. Generally, we're the first line to have to address them. 

Q: You’ve remained closely connected to UofL through alumni leadership, mentorship and philanthropy. Why is staying engaged important to you, and what advice would you give today’s students? 

A: First and foremost, I'd say: Don't underestimate yourself. 

I stay engaged with the university because of what it put into me. I recently had a friend thank me for opening doors for him, and I told him that we all have a responsibility to pay back and pay forward. My engagement with the University of Louisville is about paying back what it poured into me, but it's also about paying that forward. 

I never saw myself in the roles I've had. But the drive that was put into me during my time at the university has pushed me forward. 

I was recently invited to the White House for a lunch for first responders, and I've been in the White House now more times than I can count. To think that I came from being just a kid off the block in Louisville and a graduate of the University of Louisville to having an impact on decisions affecting my profession — it's really kind of cool. 

I've also had the opportunity to serve with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and to see how all of these experiences connect and create opportunities I never imagined. But I take it all back to Louisville. That's why I continue to stay engaged and try to provide the best insights I can to those who are starting their journey.