Wise Appointed Interim Executive Director of the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust

November 13, 2023

Camden, S.C. – November 13, 2023 -- The South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust (SCBPT) Board of Directors has appointed retired Army officer and South Carolina military historian, Rick Wise, to serve as the organization’s interim executive director. As the founder of Liberty Leadership Team, LLC, Rick has been an integral part of SCBPT’s efforts on The Liberty Trail and preserving history in South Carolina.


“With the passing of CEO Doug Bostick, our organization has lost a charismatic leader and well-respected historian,” commented Steve Osborne, chair, SCBPT Board of Directors. “We’re confident that under Rick’s leadership we will continue the significant momentum of the organization Doug has in place, and the team he built will continue to do great things to preserve the history of our state.” 


For the past three years, Rick has supported SCBPT’s battlefield protection and interpretation projects through his efforts interpreting Revolutionary War battles at onsite locations for The Liberty Trail, development of interpretive signage, and conducting tours and presentations to educate the public about events that took place in South Carolina during the Revolutionary War period. He was the chairperson responsible for the Battlefield Honors Ceremony at the Camden Battlefield for the Camden Burials Ceremony in April 2023, that honored the Revolutionary War soldiers of that battle. Rick said, “History is about people, and it is through the generosity and efforts of many today that SCBPT is able to help preserve the locations and memories of those people and events that established our great state and nation of today”. 


Prior to his work with SCBPT, he served as a program manager for the South Carolina Troops to Teachers program, assisting over 500 service members and spouses in becoming teachers in South Carolina and nationwide. 


Rick retired from the US Army in 2007, after 23 years of service. He is a veteran of Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom and was awarded the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Meritorious Service Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster. Rick and his wife, Paula, are the parents of two grown children, have four grandchildren and are residents of Camden, S.C. 


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