Kenneth “Lou” Koon, D.Min. is founder of the Intervene Challenge, and author of Listen Learn Lead (a model of suicide intervention). Since 2012 he has served as president of Stop Suicide USA formerly known as Armed Forces Mission.

More than 28,000 individuals have participated in his Intervene Challenge one-day training event to gain the skills that save lives. Clients served include Army Medical Command, Military Intelligence Command, 80th Training Command, 101st Airborne, Sergeants Major Conference, 169th Fighter Wing US AIR FORCE, Homeland Security, Federal Probation Office, Georgia Association of Nurse Educators, Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, Georgia Sheriffs’ Association, and more than 500 First Responder agencies. He has been heard internationally as a guest on VOICE AMERICA Radio and is repeatedly called upon by faith groups, schools, and civic organizations to empower others with intervention skills.

In 2018 Lou was inducted into the University of North Georgia Alumni Hall of Fame for his work in conducting more than 2,000 successful suicide interventions in both military and civilian communities. In addition to his undergraduate degree from UNG in 1986 he holds a Master of Divinity in Education, and a Doctor of Ministry in Counseling.

He retired from the US Army Reserve at the rank of Lt Colonel in 2021 where he served as a Chaplain and Subject Matter Expert in Suicide Intervention. During his tenure with the 4th Brigade 80th Training Command the unit sustained ZERO suicides for more than eight years across ten states at a time when soldier suicide was double that of the civilian population.

Ken was recently the subject of the Safe and Secure Project, a Public Service Announcement developed by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and broadcast in theaters throughout the state. He served on the strategic committee in the development of the State of Georgia Suicide Prevention Plan, and as a consultant of Behavioral Health Link in support of the Georgia Crisis and Access Line.

Ken was trained in Clinical Pastoral Education through Piedmont Hospital and is a Master Trainer of several world class intervention models. Additional education includes training through the National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (NICABM), International Crisis Intervention Stress Foundation, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the American Association of Suicidology.

His greatest dream is that one day a boy will ask his father, “Dad, what was suicide?”

He and his wife, Sherry have four grown sons, six grandchildren, and make their home in Sharpsburg, Georgia.

To contact Kenneth "Lou" Koon please go to:
Email: ken@ssusa.life
Website: www.StopSuicideUSA.org